| Liver problems can range from mild liver | | | | Energy levels fluctuate throughout the day, with |
| congestion to a serious liver disease. Depending on | | | | your tiredness becoming worse around |
| the problem, many people are unaware they | | | | mid-morning and/or mid-afternoon |
| have a liver problem and may only have vague | | | | Difficulty losing weight |
| symptoms. One of the most common symptoms | | | | Frequent headaches |
| is chronic tiredness. These people generally feel | | | | Bad breath, digestive problems, bloating, gas, |
| lethargic and sluggish during the day, especially in | | | | indigestion |
| the morning.Due to the fact that the liver is one | | | | Allergies and intolerances to foods that are |
| of the hardest working organs in the body and | | | | worsening as time goes on |
| has many roles, there are a number of problems | | | | Reactions to many chemicals including cleaning |
| that can occur with the liver. The three main | | | | products, petrol, paint, perfumes, bleaches, etc. |
| categories these problems fall into are:1. Disease | | | | Problems digesting fatty/creamy/oily foods. |
| of the liver cells2. Problems producing or secreting | | | | They can make you feel unwell, nauseous or |
| bile3. Problems with detoxificationHow do you | | | | cause heart burn and reflux |
| know if you have a liver problem?Tests are | | | | A yellowish tinge to the skin, eyes and palms of |
| available through standard pathology labs that | | | | the hands |
| measure liver enzymes, total protein, albumin and | | | | Reactions to drugs, in particular headache tablets, |
| bilirubin. Although these tests are called liver | | | | antibiotics and anti-histamines |
| %u2018function%u2019 tests, they indicate | | | | An intolerance to alcohol. Either you get drunk |
| whether the liver is damaged rather than how it is | | | | very quickly or you have bad hangovers that are |
| functioning. In other words, they are used to | | | | out of proportion to the amount of alcohol you |
| detect liver diseases, such as hepatitis and | | | | have drunk |
| cirrhosis as well as liver cells being damaged from | | | | Caffeine gives you a strong buzz and can keep |
| viruses, bacteria, alcohol, drugs and so on. These | | | | you awake for hours |
| tests are not useful in detecting mild problems | | | | When you eat asparagus, you have a funny |
| with liver congestion and sluggish detoxification. | | | | smell in your urine |
| This is best done by observing your symptoms. | | | | Skin problems such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, |
| However, it is important to consult your | | | | general rashes, itchy skin |
| practitioner and have the tests performed | | | | Hot flushes that feel as if they rise up from the |
| anyway, just to rule out the possibility of liver | | | | torso towards the head |
| disease.An ultrasound can detect if there is a | | | | You frequently wake up around 1-3am in the |
| blockage in the bile duct. This is most commonly | | | | morningPlease note: The information in this article |
| caused by the presence of gallstones in the biliary | | | | is not intended to take the place of a personal |
| duct. It is estimated that around 10-20% of | | | | relationship with a qualified health practitioner nor is |
| people over 40 years of age have gallstones and | | | | it intended as medical advice.Alison Cassar is a |
| their presence is linked to a high fat, low fibre diet. | | | | naturopathic practitioner and nutritionist and runs a |
| The presence of gallstones in the bile duct | | | | busy clinic in Sydney, Australia. Her particular |
| typically causes nausea and pain. Bile flow can also | | | | interest is chronic tiredness as it's a very |
| be impaired through the liver, however this can be | | | | common presenting symptom in clinic. Her website |
| difficult to detect with standard testing.General | | | | and e-book explores the many causes of |
| symptoms that can indicate a liver problemFeel | | | | tiredness as well as solutions and prevention. |
| tired and unrefreshed when you wake up | | | | |