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The liver is unique due to its dual blood supply from the portal Vein.

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A liver transplant is one of the most commonly transplanted organs due to its vital functions.

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The liver has an incredible ability to regenerate. even if a large portion of it is damaged.

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Liver failure happens when your liver starts to shut down. This is usually because it's become damaged and can't be repaired. It's a life-threatening condition that demands urgent medical care. Most often, liver failure happens gradually, over many years, and is called chronic liver failure. It's the final stage of many liver diseases. But a rarer condition, known as acute liver failure, happens rapidly -- in as little as 48 hours.

When working properly, the liver's main job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. (Photo Credit: WebMD)

Chronic liver disease/cirrhosis (a disease where your liver is permanently scarred) is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., according to 2022 government statistics. It causes nearly 55,000 deaths per year. Worldwide, 2 million people die from liver disease every year.

Your liver has many functions, such as:

Making bile to help you digest food

Making blood proteins that help your blood clot and transport oxygen

Supporting your immune system

Getting out substances such as drugs and alcohol from your body

Breaking down saturated fat and making cholesterol

When your liver can no longer do these things, then liver failure sets in.

There are two types of liver failure:

Acute: Your liver stops working within a matter of days. Most people who get this don't have any type of liver disease or problem before this event. It's usually caused by a hepatitis virus or overuse of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or some other medications. These events severely harm liver cells.

Chronic: Damage to your liver builds up over time and causes it to stop working. It happens alongside cirrhosis and can be due to hepatitis, long-term alcohol abuse, fatty liver disease, and other illnesses. You often don't realize you have liver damage until several years have passed. Each time the liver has to repair itself because of injury from one of these conditions, it forms scar tissue. As more scar tissue forms, it's harder for the liver to function properly.

Early signs of liver damage

The early symptoms of liver failure are often similar to those of other conditions. Because of this, liver failure may be tough to diagnose at first. Early symptoms include:

Signs of advanced liver failure

As liver failure progresses, the symptoms become more serious, needing care right away. These symptoms include:

Jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin)

Bleeding easily

Swollen belly

Mental confusion (known as hepatic encephalopathy)

Sleepiness

These symptoms will appear in both chronic and acute liver failure.

What are the signs of liver failure on the face?

You may see:

Yellowing of the eyes

Yellowing of the skin (more noticeable in white people than in black and brown people)

Acute liver failure causes

The causes of acute liver failure, when the liver fails rapidly, include:

Acetaminophen overdose: Large doses can damage your liver or lead to failure.

Viruses including hepatitis A, B, and E, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus: They lead to liver damage or cirrhosis.

Reactions to certain prescription and herbal medications: Some kill cells in your liver. Others damage the duct system that moves bile through it.

Eating poisonous wild mushrooms: A kind called Amanita phalloides, also known as the death cap, contains toxins that damage liver cells and lead to liver failure within a couple of days.

Autoimmune hepatitis: As with viral hepatitis, this disease, in which your body attacks your liver, can lead to acute liver failure.

Wilson's disease: This genetic disease prevents your body from removing copper. It builds up in your liver and damages it.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy: In this rare condition, excess fat gathers on your liver and damages it.

Septic shock: This overwhelming infection in your body can damage your liver or cause it to stop working.

Budd Chiari syndrome: This rare disease narrows and blocks the blood vessels in your liver.

Industrial toxins: Many chemicals, including carbon tetrachloride, a cleaner and degreaser, can damage your liver.

Chronic liver failure causes

The most common causes of chronic liver failure include:

Hepatitis A, B, and C: These viruses can infect the liver, making it inflamed and unable to work properly.

Long-term alcohol consumption: Heavy drinking can lead to cirrhosis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): It often affects people who are overweight, obese, or have high cholesterol. In 2023, NAFLD was renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Alcohol-related fatty liver disease affects heavy drinkers. In both diseases, extra fat cells build up on your liver, leading to an enlarged liver.

Other causes of liver failure

Less common reasons for chronic liver failure include:

Autoimmune hepatitis: In this type, your body's immune system, not a virus, attacks your liver and causes inflammation.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis: This disease slowly damages your bile ducts. It mostly affects young men.

Oxalosis: This is when your kidneys can't get rid of calcium oxalate crystals through urine, leading to their buildup in other parts of your body.

Hemochromatosis: This inherited disorder causes your body to absorb and store too much iron. It can build up in your liver and cause cirrhosis.

Wilson's disease: People with this rare inherited disease store too much copper in their brain and liver.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: This genetic condition can lead to lung or liver disease.

Liver adenoma: This is when benign tumors appear on an otherwise healthy liver. This often affects women between the ages of 20 and 44.

Alagille syndrome: A genetic disorder that results in fewer bile ducts than normal in the liver.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC): Over time, this disease destroys your small bile ducts. You might still hear it called by its former name, primary biliary cirrhosis.

Galactosemia: People with this condition can't process galactose, a sugar found in many foods. It can cause liver damage.

Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D): With this genetic condition, you can't produce an enzyme called lysosomal acid lipase, which helps your body break down fats and cholesterol in your cells. As a result, fats stay in your liver and cause damage.

Stage I: Inflammation. In the early stages, your liver will be inflamed and could be tender. Or it may not bother you at all.

Stage II: Fibrosis/scarring. If you don't treat the inflammation, it will cause scarring. As scar tissue builds up in your liver, it stops blood flow, which keeps the healthy parts from doing their job, making them work harder.

Stage III: Cirrhosis. The scar tissue takes over, and with less and less healthy tissue to do its job, your liver won't work well, or it won't work at all.

Stage IV: End-stage liver failure/disease. This is an umbrella term for several conditions, including swollen liver, internal bleeding, loss of kidney function, fluid in your belly, and lung problems. Only a liver transplant can cure it.

Tests and procedures used to diagnose liver failure and liver disease include:

Blood tests. These let your doctor know how well your liver is working. You might get a prothrombin time test, which measures how long it takes your blood to clot. With acute liver failure, blood doesn't clot as quickly as it should.

Imaging tests. These take pictures that let your doctor see what's going on in your liver and figure out what's causing the problem. They may recommend:

Ultrasound

Abdominal CT scanning

MRI

Biopsy. The doctor uses a needle to remove a small piece of liver tissue and looks at it in the lab. A transjugular liver biopsy is a special procedure that lets the doctor put the needle into a vein in your neck.

Medication. Acetylcysteine can reverse acute liver failure caused by an acetaminophen overdose. But you have to take it quickly. There are also medications that can reverse the effects of mushrooms or other poisons.

Supportive care. If a virus causes liver failure, a hospital can treat your symptoms until the virus runs its course. In these cases, the liver will sometimes recover on its own.

Liver transplant. This could mean receiving a liver from a deceased donor or a part of a liver from a live donor. A part of a healthy liver will grow to its normal size after transplant. The number of Americans waiting for a liver transplant far exceeds the number of livers available from deceased donors.

Surgery. This involves removing the diseased part of your liver, a procedure called a liver resection, or hepatectomy. The healthy part of your liver will regrow.

How to treat liver failure in people with alcohol addiction

Alcohol-related liver disease (also called alcoholic liver disease) is liver damage related to drinking too much alcohol. It normally takes years of alcohol abuse before symptoms show up. Symptoms are the same as for chronic liver disease:

Weight loss

Jaundice

Swelling in the stomach and ankles

Confusion and fatigue

Passing blood in your poop or vomiting blood

A few liver cells die every time the liver filters alcohol. Although some will come back, too much alcohol can damage the liver permanently.

The main treatment is to stop drinking. This, of course, is difficult if you're addicted to alcohol. You may be given a drug called benzodiazepine (Valium) or offered psychological counseling to help you through withdrawal. Many people go to rehab centers to help them kick alcoholism. Others find a lot of help with support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Other treatments, such as getting a liver transplant, are only available to you once you stop drinking. You'll also want to eat a proper diet because many people with alcohol-related liver disease don't eat healthily. Avoid salty foods to bring down swelling in your body.

Doctors will work to prevent complications, which include:

Cerebral edema. Fluid buildup is a problem with liver failure. In addition to your belly, it can also pool in your brain and lead to high blood pressure there.

Blood clotting problems. Your liver plays a big role in helping your blood clot. When it can't do that job, you're at risk of bleeding too freely.

Infections, such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs). End-stage liver disease can make you more likely to get infections.

Kidney failure. Liver failure can change the way your kidneys work and lead to failure.

The best way to prevent liver failure is to limit your risk of getting cirrhosis or hepatitis. Here are some tips to help prevent these conditions:
Have a healthy lifestyle

Eat a proper diet from all of the food groups. Go easy on sodium.

Keep a healthy weight.

Don't drink alcohol in excess.

Avoid risky behaviors

Be sure to use barrier protection (condoms) when having sex.

If you use illegal intravenous drugs, don't share needles with anyone.

Don't share any personal toiletry items, including toothbrushes and razors.

If you get a tattoo or a body piercing, make sure the conditions are sanitary and all equipment is aseptic (free of disease-causing germs).

Check on your medications and vaccinations

Get a hepatitis vaccine or an immunoglobulin shot to prevent hepatitis A and B.

Follow instructions on drug labels. Don't take more acetaminophen in a day than is recommended. If you already have liver disease, ask your doctor whether you should take it at all.

Avoid alcohol when you're taking acetaminophen.

Some prescription drugs and herbal supplements have been linked to liver failure, so let your doctor know about everything you're taking.

Screen for liver diseases
Blood tests can check liver function and any signs of disease. Even without any symptoms of liver disease, you may need screening if you've been exposed to hepatitis and haven't been vaccinated against it, have a family history of liver disease, are obese, have diabetes, or are addicted to alcohol.

Many liver function tests are part of a routine blood test called the comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). You'll probably need to fast before the test.

Liver failure can be acute (sudden) or chronic (ongoing). Signs of liver failure include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), swelling of the ankles and stomach, itchy skin, constant tiredness, and loss of appetite. You can have chronic liver failure for years with no symptoms. Treatment includes medication (for acute liver failure), and a change in diet and alcohol use (for chronic liver failure). If you have either type, you may end up having to have surgery to remove part of your liver or get a liver transplant.

How long can a person live with liver failure?

If you have end-stage liver disease, your lifespan will be about 2 years, unless you get a liver transplant. Once your liver starts to shut down (liver failure), you can only live for a day or two.

What can stop liver failure?

If you have acute liver failure, medications that address the cause of the problem and a liver transplant can stop it. For chronic liver failure, a change in diet, stopping drinking, and a liver transplant are needed.

What is the best drink to repair your liver?

Some say it's coffee. Research has shown that drinking more than two cups of coffee per day slowed down the progress of liver disease and cirrhosis in some people. It's not clear yet which of the many chemicals in coffee is responsible for the benefits. Not everyone who drinks coffee is protected from liver disease. If your doctor has told you to watch your diet, try not to add sugar and cream to your coffee, as these aren't good for your liver.

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Liver failure can occur gradually or suddenly. Learn more about the Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, Tests, and prevention options from WebMD's experts.

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The Stages of Liver Disease - American Liver Foundation

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The four stages of liver disease, begin with inflammation and progress all the way to liver failure, also called end-stage liver disease.

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The liver is the largest solid organ in the body. It removes toxins from the body's blood supply, maintains healthy blood sugar levels, regulates blood clotting, and performs hundreds of other vital functions. It is located beneath the rib cage in the right upper abdomen.

Key Facts

The liver filters all of the blood in the body and breaks down poisonous substances, such as alcohol and drugs.

The liver also produces bile, a fluid that helps digest fats and carry away waste.

The liver consists of four lobes, which are each made up of eight sections and thousands of lobules (or small lobes).

Functions of the Liver

The liver is an essential organ of the body that performs over 500 vital functions. These include removing waste products and foreign substances from the bloodstream, regulating blood sugar levels, and creating essential nutrients. Here are some of its most important functions:

Albumin Production: Albumin is a protein that keeps fluids in the bloodstream from leaking into surrounding tissue. It also carries hormones, vitamins, and enzymes through the body.

Bile Production: Bile is a fluid that is critical to the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine.

Filters Blood: All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver, which removes toxins, byproducts, and other harmful substances.

Regulates Amino Acids: The production of proteins depend on amino acids. The liver makes sure amino acid levels in the bloodstream remain healthy.

Regulates Blood Clotting: Blood clotting coagulants are created using vitamin K, which can only be absorbed with the help of bile, a fluid the liver produces.

Resists Infections: As part of the filtering process, the liver also removes bacteria from the bloodstream.

Stores Vitamins and Minerals: The liver stores significant amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, as well as iron and copper.

Processes Glucose: The liver removes excess glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and stores it as glycogen. As needed, it can convert glycogen back into glucose.

Anatomy of the Liver

The liver is reddish-brown and shaped approximately like a cone or a wedge, with the small end above the spleen and stomach and the large end above the small intestine. The entire organ is located below the lungs in the right upper abdomen. It weighs between 3 and 3.5 pounds.

Structure

The liver consists of four lobes: the larger right lobe and left lobe, and the smaller caudate lobe and quadrate lobe. The left and right lobe are divided by the falciform ("sickle-shaped" in Latin) ligament, which connects the liver to the abdominal wall. The liver's lobes can be further divided into eight segments, which are made up of thousands of lobules (small lobes). Each of these lobules has a duct flowing toward the common hepatic duct, which drains bile from the liver.

Parts

The following are some of the most important individual parts of the liver:

Common Hepatic Duct: A tube that carries bile out of the liver. It is formed from the intersection of the right and left hepatic ducts.

Falciform Ligament: A thin, fibrous ligament that separates the two lobes of the liver and connects it to the abdominal wall.

Glisson's Capsule: A layer of loose connective tissue that surrounds the liver and its related arteries and ducts.

Hepatic Artery: The main blood vessel that supplies the liver with oxygenated blood.

Hepatic Portal Vein: The blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen to the liver.

Lobes: The anatomical sections of the liver.

Lobules: Microscopic building blocks of the liver.

Peritoneum: A membrane covering the liver that forms the exterior.

Maintaining a Healthy Liver

The best way to avoid liver disease is to take active steps toward a healthy life. The following are some recommendations that will help keep the liver functioning as it should:

Avoid Illicit Drugs: Illicit drugs are toxins that the liver must filter out. Taking these drugs can cause long-term damage.

Drink Alcohol Moderately: Alcohol must be broken down by the liver. While the liver can moderate amounts, excessive alcohol use can cause damage.

Exercise Regularly: A regular exercise routine will help promote general health for every organ, including the liver.

Eat Healthy Foods: Eating excessive fats can make it difficult for the liver to function and lead to fatty liver disease.

Practice Safe Sex: Use protection to avoid sexually transmitted diseases such as hepatitis C.

Vaccinate: Especially when traveling, get appropriate vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, as well as diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, which grow in the liver.

Next Steps

If you need help for a liver condition, give us a call at (877) LIVER MD/ (877) 548-3763 or get in touch using our online request form.

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The liver is the largest solid organ in the body. It removes toxins from the body's blood supply, maintains healthy blood sugar levels, regulates blood clotting, and performs hundreds of other vital functions. It is located beneath the rib cage in the right upper abdomen.

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Overview

The liver is an organ about the size of a football. It sits just under your rib cage on the right side of your abdomen. The liver is essential for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances.

Liver disease can be inherited (genetic). Liver problems can also be caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity.

Over time, conditions that damage the liver can lead to scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition. But early treatment may give the liver time to heal.

Products & Services

Symptoms

Liver disease doesn't always cause noticeable signs and symptoms. If signs and symptoms of liver disease do occur, the may include:

Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice)

Abdominal pain and swelling

Swelling in the legs and ankles

Itchy skin

Dark urine color

Pale stool color

Chronic fatigue

Nausea or vomiting

Loss of appetite

Tendency to bruise easily

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you. Seek immediate medical attention if you have abdominal pain that is so severe that you can't stay still.

Causes

Liver disease has many causes.

Infection

Parasites and viruses can infect the liver, causing inflammation that reduces liver function. The viruses that cause liver damage can be spread through blood or semen, contaminated food or water, or close contact with a person who is infected. The most common types of liver infection are hepatitis viruses, including:

Immune system abnormality

Diseases in which your immune system attacks certain parts of your body (autoimmune) can affect your liver. Examples of autoimmune liver diseases include:

Autoimmune hepatitis

Primary biliary cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Genetics

An abnormal gene inherited from one or both of your parents can cause various substances to build up in your liver, resulting in liver damage. Genetic liver diseases include:

Hemochromatosis

Wilson's disease

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Cancer and other growths

Examples include:

Other

Additional, common causes of liver disease include:

Chronic alcohol abuse

Fat accumulation in the liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)

Certain prescription or over-the-counter medications

Certain herbal compounds

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of liver disease include:

Heavy alcohol use

Obesity

Type 2 diabetes

Tattoos or body piercings

Injecting drugs using shared needles

Blood transfusion before 1992

Exposure to other people's blood and body fluids

Unprotected sex

Exposure to certain chemicals or toxins

Family history of liver disease

Complications

Complications of liver disease vary, depending on the cause of your liver problems. Untreated liver disease may progress to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.

Prevention

To prevent liver disease:

Drink alcohol in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men. Heavy or high-risk drinking is defined as more than eight drinks a week for women and more than 15 drinks a week for men.

Avoid risky behavior. Use a condom during sex. If you choose to have tattoos or body piercings, be picky about cleanliness and safety when selecting a shop. Seek help if you use illicit intravenous drugs, and don't share needles to inject drugs.

Get vaccinated. If you're at increased risk of contracting hepatitis or if you've already been infected with any form of the hepatitis virus, talk to your doctor about getting the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines.

Use medications wisely. Take prescription and nonprescription drugs only when needed and only in recommended doses. Don't mix medications and alcohol. Talk to your doctor before mixing herbal supplements or prescription or nonprescription drugs.

Avoid contact with other people's blood and body fluids. Hepatitis viruses can be spread by accidental needle sticks or improper cleanup of blood or body fluids.

Keep your food safe. Wash your hands thoroughly before eating or preparing foods. If traveling in a developing country, use bottled water to drink, wash your hands and brush your teeth.

Take care with aerosol sprays. Make sure to use these products in a well-ventilated area, and wear a mask when spraying insecticides, fungicides, paint and other toxic chemicals. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Protect your skin. When using insecticides and other toxic chemicals, wear gloves, long sleeves, a hat and a mask so that chemicals aren't absorbed through your skin.

Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Show references

1. Jameson JL, et al., eds. Approach to the patient with liver disease. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 20th ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2018. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Dec. 23, 2019.

2. The progression of liver disease. American Liver Foundation. https://liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/the-progression-of-liver-disease/. Accessed Dec. 20, 2019.

3. AskMayoExpert. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (adult). Mayo Clinic. Accessed Dec. 20, 2019.

4. Goldman L, et al., eds. Approach to the patient with liver disease. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 23, 2019.

5. Feldman M, et al. Hepatic drug metabolism and liver disease caused by drugs. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 10th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 23, 2019.

6. AskMayoExpert. Alcoholic liver disease (adult). Mayo Clinic. Accessed Dec. 20, 2019.

7. Alcohol and public health: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm. Accessed Dec. 20, 2019.

8. Hepatitis A. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/viral-hepatitis/hepatitis-a. Accessed Dec. 20, 2019.

9. Feldman M, et al. Liver disease caused by anesthetics, chemicals, toxins, and herbal preparations. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 10th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 23, 2019.

10. Mundi MS, et al. Evolution of NAFLD and its management. Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 2019; doi:10.1002/ncp.10449.

11. Ferri FF. Cirrhosis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2020. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 23, 2019.

12. Five things you should know about dietary supplements for hepatitis C. National Center for Complementary Integrative Health. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/hepatitisC. Accessed Dec. 20, 2019.

13. Babu AP, et al. Elastography in chronic liver disease: Modalities, techniques, limitations, and future directions. RadioGraphics. 2016; doi:10.1148/rg.2016160042.

14. Hoodeshenas S, et al. Magnetic resonance elastography of liver-Current update. Topics in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2018; doi:10.1097/RMR.0000000000000177.

15. Brown A. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Nov. 14, 2019.

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The liver is an organ about the size of a football. It sits just under your rib cage on the right side of your abdomen. The liver is essential for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances. Liver disease can be inherited (genetic).

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Places to research more about the liver:

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Places to research more about the liver:

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What is the liver?

The human liver is an organ and gland in the human body. It's spongy, wedge-shaped, reddish-brown in color and about the size of a football. The size varies based on how tall you are and how much you weigh.

The liver is an essential organ, performing hundreds of functions necessary to sustain life. It's also a gland because it makes proteins and hormones that other parts of the body need.

Weighing, on average, about three pounds in an adult, the liver is the largest internal organ. Under normal conditions, the liver is located on the right side of the body, under the ribs. In a condition called situs inversus, the liver is located on the left side.

Issues related to the liver are called hepatic conditions. A medical professional who specializes in the liver is a hepatologist.

What does the liver do?

The liver has hundreds of jobs. Some of the most vital are:

Cleans toxins (harmful substances) out of the blood.

Gets rid of old red blood cells.

Makes bile, a fluid that helps the body digest (break down) food.

Metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates and fats so your body can use them.

Produces substances to help blood clot.

Regulates the amount of blood in the body.

Stores glycogen (an energy source) and vitamins to be used by the body later.

What are the parts of the liver?

The liver has two main parts: the larger right lobe and the smaller left lobe.

The lobes contain many blood vessels. Blood travels through the liver. The liver filters (cleans) the blood, removing toxins and waste that eventually leave the body through urine and feces.

The lobes also contain thousands of lobules (small lobes). These lobules connect with many bile ducts, tubes that transport bile from the liver to the small intestine.

What conditions and disorders affect the liver?

Many conditions can affect the liver. Among the most common are:

Many of these conditions can lead to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver.

Sometimes, damaged liver tissue can regenerate, or grow back. Other times, liver disease can cause serious symptoms and even be life-threatening.

What are the symptoms of liver problems?

When a person has a liver problem, one of the most common symptoms is jaundice.

With jaundice, the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow because of too much bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow waste product the liver gets rid of when it breaks down red blood cells. Higher levels of bilirubin indicate a possible problem in the liver.

Other symptoms of liver problems may include:

How can I keep my liver healthy?

To keep your liver healthy and functioning well, try to follow these tips:

Avoid toxins, such as chemicals, smoking and illegal drugs.

Don't share needles, razors, toothbrushes or any other personal items, which can spread viruses.

Drink alcohol only in moderation.

Follow healthcare professionals' instructions about medications, especially warnings against mixing medications and alcohol.

Maintain a healthy weight, including eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly.

Practice safe sex to avoid hepatitis infection.

Talk to your healthcare provider about vaccinations against hepatitis.

Wash your hands frequently.

When should I seek medical attention?

If you have any symptoms of liver problems, especially jaundice or belly pain, talk to a healthcare provider. Anytime you have severe pain in your abdomen, get immediate medical care.

How do I know if I'm at risk for liver problems?

You may be at risk for liver problems if you:

Are exposed to chemicals regularly.

Have overweight/obesity.

Drink a lot of alcohol.

Have relatives who've had liver disease.

Practice poor personal hygiene, such as having unprotected sex, sharing personal items and not washing your hands often.

A note from Cleveland Clinic
The liver is both an organ and a gland that performs hundreds of functions vital to human life. Many common conditions and diseases can damage the liver, but you can take steps to protect it. Talk to a healthcare professional if you have any symptoms, especially jaundice or pain in your belly.

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Liver: What It Does, Disorders & Symptoms, Staying Healthy

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The human liver is an organ and gland in the human body. It's spongy, wedge-shaped, reddish-brown in color and about the size of a football. The size varies based on how tall you are and how much you weigh. The liver is an essential organ, performing hundreds of functions necessary to sustain life.

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how to know if you are at risk for liver issues:

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how to know if you are at risk for liver issues:

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Are exposed to chemicals regularly.

Have overweight/obesity.

Drink a lot of alcohol.

Have relatives who’ve had liver disease.

Practice poor personal hygiene, such as having unprotected sex, sharing personal items and not washing your hands often.

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you should seek medical attention if you have any symptoms of liver problems, especially jaundice or belly pain, talk to a healthcare provider. Anytime you have severe pain in your abdomen, get immediate medical care.

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to keep your liver healthy and safe you should avoid toxins, not share needles, razors, toothbrushes or person items, drink alcohol in moderation, follow medical professionals directions, maintain a healthy weight, practice safe sex, take vaccinations if told to, and wash your hands frequently.

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other symptoms that people with liver disease may experience is build up of fluid in the belly area, easy bruising, itchy skin, low blood pressure, pain in the abdomen, swelling in the legs and ankles, tremors, weakness, loss of balance, and fatigue, and confusion or loss of concentration.

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When a person has liver disease, one of the most common symptoms is jaundice. With jaundice, the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow because of too much bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow waste that the liver usually gets rid of when breaking down red blood cells.

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There are many diseases that can affect the liver...Diseases that occur when a person consumes too many toxins, such alcohol related liver disease and fatty liver disease (extra fat).

Inherited diseases like hemochromatosis (iron overload) and Wilson disease(too much copper in the body).

Liver cancer, when abnormal cells grow too quickly.

Problems when the immune system attacks the liver, such as autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cholangitis.

Viral infections, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Many of these conditions can lead to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver.

Sometimes, damaged liver tissue can regenerate, or grow back. Other times, liver disease can cause serious symptoms and even be life-threatening.

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the liver has two main parts, the larger right lobe and the smaller left lobe. The lobes contain multiple blood vessels, blood travels through the liver, the liver filters the blood removing toxins and waste that then eventually leaves the body through urine and feces. The lobules also connect to many bile ducts that transports feces from the liver to the small intestine.

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Gets rid of old red blood cells.

Makes bile, a fluid that helps the body digest (break down) food.

Metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates and fats so your body can use them.

Produces substances to help blood clot.

Regulates the amount of blood in the body.

Stores glycogen (an energy source) and vitamins to be used by the body later.

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The human liver is about the size of a football, but sizes vary on how height and weight. The liver weighs about 3 pounds in an average adult.

Sometimes in certain conditions the liver could be located on the left side of the body such as in situs inversus.

The liver is also gland because it makes protein and hormones that other parts on the body needs.

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The liver removes toxins from the body's blood supply, maintains healthy blood sugar levels and regulates blood clotting and other vital functions.

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The liver is the largest solid organ in the body.