Liver disease: signs, causes and what to do now

Liver disease can creep up quietly. You might feel tired or notice yellow skin, but many people have no symptoms until the problem is advanced. Knowing the common warning signs and simple actions you can take makes a big difference.

Common causes and what they do

Several things damage the liver. Alcohol misuse repeatedly injures liver cells and can lead to fatty liver, hepatitis and eventually cirrhosis. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is tied to obesity, high blood sugar and high cholesterol. Viral hepatitis (A, B, C) directly infects liver tissue — some types become chronic. Certain medicines, herbal supplements and toxins can injure the liver too. In some regions, parasites like schistosomiasis also damage the liver; that’s why antiparasitic drugs exist for specific infections.

Each cause behaves differently. Fatty liver often starts without pain but shows up on blood tests or ultrasound. Viral hepatitis may cause flu-like symptoms, jaundice or dark urine. Long-term damage shows as scarring (fibrosis) and, later, cirrhosis with fluid retention, bleeding or confusion.

How you find out — tests that matter

Start with simple tests. Blood work called liver function tests (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin) flags cell injury and bile problems. A complete blood count and clotting tests help assess severity. Imaging like ultrasound or FibroScan checks fat and scarring. Sometimes a liver specialist recommends a biopsy to see exact damage. If infections are suspected, specific viral or parasite tests are done.

Don’t ignore abnormal results — early steps usually help. For example, weight loss and better blood sugar control often reverse early fatty liver. Antiviral drugs can suppress or cure some hepatitis infections. Stopping harmful medications or alcohol gives the liver a chance to heal.

Medication safety is key. Many common drugs, including over-the-counter pain relievers, can harm the liver in large amounts or when mixed with alcohol. If you buy medicines online, choose reputable sources and follow your doctor’s advice. Report new symptoms like nausea, dark urine, yellow skin, severe belly pain, or unexplained bruising right away.

Prevention is simple and powerful: get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B if you need it, practice safer sex, avoid sharing needles, limit alcohol, control weight, and check with your doctor before starting supplements or new drugs. Regular checkups and basic blood tests catch problems earlier.

If you’re worried about liver disease, ask your primary care doctor for tests or a referral to a hepatologist (liver specialist). Small changes now — better diet, less alcohol, managing diabetes — protect your liver and reduce the chance of serious problems later.