The liver does so many important things, from eliminating toxins to assisting with the process of digestion. So vital to the body that it is actually capable of regenerating its own tissues!

However, it’s not a good idea to push your liver to the limit because it can stop regenerating, too.

You don’t want that to happen because a lot of unfavorable things will surely take place since your liver carries out a lot of tasks essential to your health and survival.

Here are some of the things that can happen to your body if your liver is no longer functioning optimally:

Abdominal Swelling

Fluid can collect in the abdomen if the liver is not in a good shape. The swelling can be so severe that it can leave you looking like you’re pregnant — even if you’re a male! Doctors have a fancy name for it: ascites.

There are so many different medical conditions that can also cause abdominal swelling. However, doctors say that the single most common cause of such is a problem with the liver. Also, it’s most likely for pain to be experienced in the upper right corner of your abdomen because that’s where the liver can be found.

By the way, it’s not just the abdomen that may become swollen if you have an issue with your liver, but the ankles, too.

Yellow Skin and Whites of the Eyes

One of the most unusual things that can happen to your body if your liver is not functioning well is what’s referred to as jaundice. Simply put, jaundice is the yellowing of the skin as well as the whites of the eyes.

Experts say that it all has something to do with the fact that the liver is no longer capable of removing a bile pigment called bilirubin from the blood. Do take note that one of the liver’s many functions is to get rid of impurities and poisonous substances in the body.

It’s not just your skin and the whites of your eyes that may change in color, though. If you have jaundice, your urine also tends to be darker and your stool tends to be lighter.

Itchy Skin

Other than appearing yellow, your skin may feel itchy all the time if there’s a problem with your liver. Again, it’s for the fact that the liver is no longer capable of properly purifying the blood — the accumulation of waste products and poisonous substances in the bloodstream can register as skin itchiness.

Doctors say that it’s possible for the skin to develop thick and flaky patches, too.

They add that some people with liver problems also experience the showing up of blood vessels through the skin. At times the feet and hands may appear reddened.

Nausea and Vomiting

Earlier, it was mentioned that one of the many tasks carried out by the liver is helping with the process of digestion. And what are some of the things that may strike when there’s poor digestion? Nausea and vomiting!

According to experts, one of the steps that they take right away if a patent complains of unexplained and persistent nausea and vomiting is assess the condition of the liver. If it’s not in a good shape, then most likely it’s the one that is causing nausea and vomiting due to poor digestion.

Because of nausea and vomiting, you may lose your appetite, which is another usual symptom of a liver issue.