How do you know if your liver is struggling?

Author: Prof. Doris Roberts V  |  Last update: Monday, January 5, 2026

If there are symptoms of liver disease, they may include: Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, called jaundice. Yellowing of the skin might be harder to see on Black or brown skin. Belly pain and swelling.

What are the first signs of a bad liver?

Early symptoms can include:
  • Feeling generally unwell.
  • Feeling tired all the time, even when you have rested.
  • Feeling or being sick.
  • Pain or a sore feeling under your ribs on your right side.
  • Small spider like veins showing on your skin above waist level (spider angiomas)
  • Blotchy red palms.
  • Trouble sleeping.

How do I make my liver healthy again?

Avoid frequent overconsumption of food and alcohol, maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen, and get screened if you have liver disease risk factors. If you do have liver damage, work with your physician to come up with the healthiest and safest plan for your personal needs.

What are the symptoms of a sluggish liver?

Symptoms may include:
  • Jaundice.
  • Tendency to bruise or bleed easily.
  • Ascites.
  • Impaired brain function.
  • General failing health.
  • Fatigue.
  • Weakness.
  • Nausea.

What is the first stage of liver damage?

Stage 1: Hepatitis

Hepatitis means inflammation in your liver tissues. Inflammation is your liver's response to injury or toxicity. It's an attempt to purge infections and start the healing process. Acute hepatitis (an immediate and temporary response) often accomplishes this.

4 warning signs your liver is unhappy | Health Smart

What is the best drink to flush your liver?

Tumeric tea is considered one of the best drinks for liver detox. Studies show that turmeric has properties that can decrease the key pro-inflammatory molecules that initiate, develop, or worsen diseases like liver disease.

What destroys the liver the most?

Too Much Alcohol

Alcoholic fatty liver, which causes liver inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis), eventual scarring (cirrhosis) and even liver cancer, is a process that begins on as little as four drinks a day for men and two for women. By the time you show symptoms, your liver may be damaged beyond repair.

How do I cleanse my liver asap?

What foods help detoxify the liver? Some great foods to help cleanse and support liver function include leafy greens like spinach and kale, avocados, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, grapefruit, green tea, turmeric, apples, olive oil, citrus fruits, beets, and cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts and cabbage.

What part of the body itches with liver problems?

Itching is a symptom of liver disease. You might itch anywhere on your body, but it's most common on the arms and legs, or the palms of your hands or soles of your feet. Some people itch all over. Itching in liver disease can vary from mild to exhausting.

What happens right before your liver fails?

Inflammation: In this early stage of liver disease, your liver is swollen but you may not notice any symptoms. Scarring (fibrosis): Over time, inflammation turns healthy liver tissue into scar tissue, which is called fibrosis. Fibrosis makes it harder for your liver to work properly, but it is often reversible.

Does drinking water help your liver?

Staying hydrated is crucial for your physical health, and your liver health is no exception. Drinking enough water helps your liver flush out toxins and function properly. It can also: Support nutrient absorption.

What are the three worst things for your liver?

Foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt put extra stress on the liver. Fast food, packaged foods, and processed foods tend to contain a lot of these elements.

How do I check if my liver is OK?

A group of blood tests called liver function tests can diagnose liver disease. Other blood tests can be done to look for certain liver problems or conditions caused by gene changes. Imaging tests. An ultrasound, CT scan and MRI can show liver damage.

What color is your urine if you have a fatty liver?

The urine may turn a dark yellow or tea color, and the stools may be pale gray or whitish.

Where is liver pain felt?

Liver pain can range from dull and achy to more severe pain in the upper right abdomen, the upper right shoulder, or middle of the back.

How does your body warn you that liver disease is coming?

Yellowing of the skin and eyeballs, called jaundice. Pain in the upper right belly area, called the abdomen. A swollen belly, known as ascites. Nausea and vomiting.

What is stage 1 liver cirrhosis?

There are 2 stages of liver cirrhosis: compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. Compensated cirrhosis is the early stage of liver cirrhosis. It has only mild or no symptoms. At this point some of your liver still works well enough to compensate (make up) for the parts of the liver that have scarring.

What does a bad liver belly look like?

Fluid leaks out of the liver and into the belly, and your belly begins to fill up. This can make your abdomen enlarge like a balloon filled with water. Your legs and scrotum can get swollen too.

What is the #1 best drink for your liver?

Below, we explore 11 drinks that are often reported to support liver health — and tell you what the research says about each one.
  • Detox tea. Liver detox tea usually contains many different herbs and ingredients. ...
  • Green tea. ...
  • Turmeric tea. ...
  • Ginger tea. ...
  • Grapefruit juice. ...
  • Apple cider vinegar. ...
  • Lemon water. ...
  • Cranberry juice.

How do I clean my gut?

To improve your gut health, follow these tips.
  1. Exercise. ...
  2. Eat a healthy diet. ...
  3. Eat smaller, more frequent meals to avoid overwhelming the GI tract.
  4. Chew your food thoroughly – it can ease the digestive process.
  5. Manage your stress levels. ...
  6. Take or eat probiotics. ...
  7. Eat more fiber. ...
  8. Drink plenty of water.

What side is your liver on female?

The liver is an organ that sits just under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen. It can weigh up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms). The liver is needed to help digest food, rid the body of waste products and make substances, called clotting factors, that keep the blood flowing well, among other tasks.

What drug is most toxic to the liver?

Anti-seizure medications, like phenytoin

Anti-seizure medications top many lists as potential causes of liver injury. Phenytoin (Dilantin) is one of the most common causes of DILI and liver failure.

How can you tell if your liver is inflamed?

Inflamed Liver Symptoms

Feelings of fatigue. Jaundice, which causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to appear yellow. Feeling full quickly after a meal. Nausea.

What is the super food for the liver?

Top foods and drinks for liver health
  • Coffee. A 2021 study analyzed data from 494,585 people in the United Kingdom to learn how different types of coffee might affect the risk of chronic liver disease, including decaffeinated, instant, and ground coffee. ...
  • Oatmeal. ...
  • Green tea. ...
  • Garlic. ...
  • Berries. ...
  • Grapes. ...
  • Grapefruit. ...
  • Prickly pear.

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