Liver Disease Consortium

Diseases of the liver may not come with symptoms and so it is often after one may have undertaken a blood test that some abnormalities are found. Before I go into explaining the meaning of each of the components of the liver function test (LFT), I shall run through a few preambles. Symptoms - what one may feel: Nothing loss of appetite Yellowish discoloration of the eyes Nausea and vomiting chronic tiredness dark urine  generalised skin itch light coloured stools swelling of the abdomen Apart from those that will be found to have an abnormal result sporadically, you can ask for a liver function test if you belong in any of the following: Family history of liver diseases, such as haemochromatosis you have a history referral to the intestinal system you have gall stone disease or a family history of same You drink alcohol over the limits you take performance enhancing drugs you suffer from eating disorder You take medications that may harm your liver - if in ...

Some of you may wonder why the liver has so much importance to demand so much attention. There are several reasons. I will explain in some small detail why you should not ignore your liver. 1. It is one of the largest organs of the body 2. It serves as a conduit through which most of the food we eat gets into our blood stream before being distributed to the rest of the body. After eating, food gets digested into small molecules. These are largely absorbed into the blood stream and which gets to the heart for pumping round the body. Between the heart and the intestines, is the liver - which further processes some of the food 3. The liver serves as a store reserve of food for intermediate requirements. Glycogen, a complex form of molecules of glucose is stored largely within the liver. The liver also stores several essential minerals and vitamins such as iron, copper and vitamin B12. 4. The liver is involved in ensuring that our clotting system does not become deranged. It produce...