How to Check for Liver Problems

Liver problems may be caused by viruses such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, cancers that spread to the liver from other areas, excessive alcohol intake, certain medications and gallbladder disease. Liver conditions can cause rapid decline in liver function, so you need to determine the cause so treatment can begin. Take these steps to check for liver problems.

Things You'll Need

• Physical examination
• Referral to liver specialist
• Blood tests
• X-rays

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Instructions

• 1

  See your primary care doctor. You need a physical examination from your doctor to determine if you have liver problems. He will examine your abdomen to check for signs of an enlarged liver and will examine your skin and eyes for evidence of jaundice, common with liver disease.

• 2

  Seek a referral. If your doctor suspects you have liver problems, ask about a referral to a liver specialist. Although your doctor has general knowledge in diagnosing liver problems, a liver specialist can interpret liver function tests more efficiently.

• 3

  Know the symptoms. Symptoms of liver problems include liver enlargement, pain in upper right abdomen, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, fluid accumulation in the abdomen with abdominal swelling, dark urine and light stools. These symptoms may indicate other medical conditions, however, if you experience them, see your doctor.

• 4

  Ask about blood tests. Certain blood tests are exclusive to liver function. Ask your doctor to explain the tests and what any non-normal indications mean. When your liver function is abnormal, certain liver enzymes will slip into the bloodstream, causing an elevation of these enzymes in your bloodstream.

• 5

  Inquire about X-rays. Visualizations of the liver and bile ducts are effective diagnostic tools to check for liver problems. Ask your doctor about an MRI or ultrasound of your liver and bile ducts.