-
Stores
iron reserves, as well as vitamins and minerals
-
Makes
bile to help digest food
-
Detoxifies
poisonous chemicals, including alcohol, beer, wine, and drugs -
prescribed and over-the-counter as well as illegal substances. Acts
as a filter to convert them to substances that can be used or
excreted from the body
-
Converts
food we eat into stored energy, and chemicals necessary for life and
growth
-
Makes
your blood
-
Manufactures
new proteins
-
Makes
clotting factors to help blood clot
-
Removes
poisons from the air, exhaust, smoke and chemicals we breathe.
-
Manufactures
and exports important body chemicals used by the body. One of these
is bile, a greenish-yellow substance essential for the digestion of
fats in the small intestine.
Symptoms and signs of liver
disease
1. ABNORMALLY YELLOW DISCOLORATION OF THE SKIN AND EYES.
This is called jaundice which is often the first and sometimes the
only sign of liver disease.
2. DARK URINE.
3. GRAY, YELLOW, OR LIGHT-COLORED STOOLS.
4. NAUSEA, VOMITING AND/OR LOSS OF APPETITE.
5. VOMITING OF BLOOD, BLOODY OR BLACK STOOLS. Intestinal bleeding
can occur when liver diseases obstruct blood flow through the liver.
The bleeding may result in vomiting of blood or bloody stools.
6. ABDOMINAL SWELLING. Liver disease may cause ascites, an
accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity.
7. PROLONGED GENERALIZED ITCHING.
8. UNUSUAL CHANGE OF WEIGHT. An increase or decrease of more than
5% within two months.
9. ABDOMINAL PAIN.
10. SLEEP DISTURBANCES, MENTAL CONFUSION AND COMA are present
in severe liver disease. These result from an accumulation of toxic
substances in the body which impair brain function.
11. FATIGUE OR LOSS OF STAMINA.
12. LOSS OF SEXUAL DRIVE OR PERFORMANCE.
If any of these signs or symptoms
appear, consult your physician immediately.
Prevention:
Don't drink any alcohol!
Alcohol
speeds damage to the liver.
Avoid taking medicines unnecessarily.
Also avoid exposure to industrial
chemicals whenever possible.
Maintain a healthful, balanced diet.
Don't
be involved in anything involving needles:
such
as body piercing, tattooing, drug use.
Consult your physician
if you observe any signs or symptoms of liver disease.
And while you're at it,
if you haven't had a test for hepatitis C *
ask for one to be done. It is a simple blood test that isn't
normally done when having a physical. It is a 'silent disease'
|
Not feeling well?
Your blood can tell you
a lot about your health. Get a 'head start'
Gather all your past
blood counts RBCs
WBCs and PTLs
& see if the
numbers on any of them came out of the normal range...
Check
even more in your blood
Ask for help from
your doctor.
|
Helps with inflammation of the
liver: milk
thisle?
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