Your liver is one of your body's largest and most important organs. It is found directly under your rib cage and is vital in the digestion of food, cleansing the body of toxic chemicals and helping maintain energy levels. Certain symptoms can help you gauge your liver health and can even point to liver disease if you know what signs to look for. By identifying these signs, you can establish the health of your liver.
Jaundice
Jaundice is one of the earliest symptoms that can point to a problem with liver health, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. This symptom is described as a yellow discoloration of the skin and the sclera, or the white parts of the eye. High levels of bilirubin, a yellow pigment, are the usual cause of jaundice. Bilirubin accumulates when your liver becomes inflamed or there is blockage of your bile ducts. The inflammation typically occurs due to liver damage or disease. Therefore, if you become jaundiced, you may be suffering from liver disease.
Energy Levels
Your liver plays a key role in keeping your energy levels normal. Your liver provides sugar and other nutrients that your cells need in order to survive. Therefore, if you have enough energy to get through the day, then you probably have healthy liver. However, if you suffer from chronic fatigue and weakness, then you may have liver disease, the National Institute of Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse reports. Once your liver becomes damaged, your body may not be able to get enough energy to function properly.
Color of Urine and Stool
Urine and stool color can be used to evaluate liver health. The yellow color of your urine can be attributed to the amount of bilirubin it contains. Bilirubin also gives your stool its dark color. Therefore, normal colored stool and urine usually indicates a healthy liver. However, if your urine becomes darker than usual or your stool becomes pale, you may have a disease within your liver, MayoClinic.com explains. Abnormal bilirubin levels that may be caused liver damage cause the discoloration of your urine and stool.
Liver Size
Your liver is typically football-shaped and usually not palpable. Sometimes physicians are able to gauge the size of your liver by performing a physical exam on your abdomen. A normal-size liver is indicative of a healthy organ. However, an enlarged liver is a sign of liver disease. An enlarged liver can be felt by deep palpation of the upper right part of the abdomen, or viewed directly via an abdominal X-ray.
