Liver Disease Symptoms - 10 Signs You Have Liver Disease

Did you know that of the top causes of death and disability liver disease is the only cause that has consistently grown over the last few decades? And that over one third of all people in the Western world suffer from liver disease and don't know it?

Most people in this condition suffer from mild liver disease. Symptoms are not specific to the liver and most of the time people attribute it to sloppiness, tiredness, diet, or genetics.

If you suffer from two or more of the following symptoms chances are you suffer from some form of liver disease.

Excess body weight. Because the liver is in control of your body's metabolic rate, when there is liver disease your metabolism is impaired. This often leads to obesity (and extreme weight loss in later stages). When people go on normal diets they will lose some weight but because their liver is not healthy their metabolic rate will go down and weight loss soon stops - the famous weight loss plateaus.

Bad breath. When your metabolism is impaired your body has to resort to alternative ways of producing energy. These processes produce byproducts which are expelled by your mouth, producing bad breath, no matter how many times you brush your teeth.

Circles under the eyes. It is not clear why liver disease causes circles under the eyes, but people who heal their liver will lose them, so there is a connection.

Diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. More results from an unhealthy metabolism. Sugars won't be handled properly as response to insulin diminishes, fat will pile up in your arteries, and your heart and brain will suffer.

Headaches and a foggy mind. Without proper energy sources and due to the pile up of toxic substances (which your liver was supposed to get rid of) brain cells won't work properly causing a foggy mind and headaches. Some doctors believe that liver disease can cause Alzheimer's disease, though no studies have shown a link.

Tiredness. No energy... Are you starting to see a pattern?

Feeling bloated. Besides controlling your metabolism and getting rid of toxic substances, your liver is also responsible for secreting bile, which is necessary to absorb fat. When it malfunctions it produces less bile and the excess fat is digested by bacteria, which secrete gas in the process, thus making you feel bloated.