Liver Problems - What are the Symptoms?

Liver problems can range from mild liver congestion to a serious liver disease. Depending on the problem, many people are unaware they have a liver problem and may only have vague symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is chronic tiredness. These people generally feel lethargic and sluggish during the day, especially in the morning.
Due to the fact that the liver is one of the hardest working organs in the body and has many roles, there are a number of problems that can occur with the liver. The three main categories these problems fall into are:
1. Disease of the liver cells
2. Problems producing or secreting bile
3. Problems with detoxification
How do you know if you have a liver problem?
Tests are available through standard pathology labs that measure liver enzymes, total protein, albumin and bilirubin. Although these tests are called liver 'function' tests, they indicate whether the liver is damaged rather than how it is functioning. In other words, they are used to detect liver diseases, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis as well as liver cells being damaged from viruses, bacteria, alcohol, drugs and so on. These tests are not useful in detecting mild problems with liver congestion and sluggish detoxification. This is best done by observing your symptoms. However, it is important to consult your practitioner and have the tests performed anyway, just to rule out the possibility of liver disease.
An ultrasound can detect if there is a blockage in the bile duct. This is most commonly caused by the presence of gallstones in the biliary duct. It is estimated that around 10-20% of people over 40 years of age have gallstones and their presence is linked to a high fat, low fibre diet. The presence of gallstones in the bile duct typically causes nausea and pain. Bile flow can also be impaired through the liver, however this can be difficult to detect with standard testing.
General symptoms that can indicate a liver problem

Feel tired and unrefreshed when you wake up

Energy levels fluctuate throughout the day, with your tiredness becoming worse around mid-morning and/or mid-afternoon

Difficulty losing weight

Frequent headaches

Bad breath, digestive problems, bloating, gas, indigestion

Allergies and intolerances to foods that are worsening as time goes on

Reactions to many chemicals including cleaning products, petrol, paint, perfumes, bleaches, et

Problems digesting fatty/creamy/oily foods. They can make you feel unwell, nauseous or cause heart burn and reflux

A yellowish tinge to the skin, eyes and palms of the hand

Reactions to drugs, in particular headache tablets, antibiotics and anti-histamines

An intolerance to alcohol. Either you get drunk very quickly or you have bad hangovers that are out of proportion to the amount of alcohol you have drunk

Caffeine gives you a strong buzz and can keep you awake for hours

When you eat asparagus, you have a funny smell in your urine

Skin problems such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, general rashes, itchy skin

Hot flushes that feel as if they rise up from the torso towards the head

You frequently wake up around 1-3am in the morning

Please note: The information in this article is not intended to take the place of a personal relationship with a qualified health practitioner nor is it intended as medical advice.

By Alison Cassar

Tiredness and Fatigue - 10 Best Ways To Combat Tiredness

Fatigue is the medical word for feeling tired most or all of the time. People may describe it in a variety of ways, using terms such as weak, exhausted, weary, worn-out, etc. This level of tiredness will vary between individuals. Although many people are able to carry on with their normal routine, others may find it difficult to cope.

Sometimes this tiredness can feel overwhelming and leave you with little energy, or motivation, for everyday tasks. Tiredness affects everyone differently.

Many people with chest, heart and stroke conditions experience tiredness or fatigue.

This fact sheet provides information, tips and strategies that you can build into your daily life to help reduce tiredness and conserve energy and ultimately it'll reduce fatigue as well. Try to accept that you will have good days as well as days when you will feel more tired.

There are many things that can be done to make the problem of Tiredness more bearable. Here are some suggestions to help you cope:

1. Pace yourself- Give yourself time to do things. Alternate work / chores and rest by doing things in small stages. Do most energy-consuming tasks at the time of day / week when you have most energy, but be flexible and plan rest periods.
2. Get good quality sleep- It is important to get as good a quality of sleep as possible. A few hours deep and restorative sleep is more beneficial than hours of poor quality sleep.
3. Eat energy giving foods- Aim to eat a well balanced diet with foods rich in iron and vitamins (e.g. liver, spinach, fortified cereals). Slow burning carbohydrates are good as they provide energy gradually. Examples include: whole grains, pasta, rice, cereals, oats, beans and lentils. Sweets and chocolate give you a rush of energy that only lasts for a short time so try not to eat these regularly. Eating small meals more often is easier for the body to digest than 3 large meals. It also helps to provides energy more evenly throughout the day. Cook when you have more energy and freeze some of the prepared food for the days that you feel tired. Have a stock of healthy readymade meals for the days when you don't feel like cooking.
4. Learn to relax- Sometimes the harder you try to do something the harder it is to do, which can cause tension, anxiety and frustration. All this takes more energy. Being relaxed lets you use your energy more efficiently. You could try breathing exercises, meditation, listening to soothing music or talking to someone you trust and letting go of your anxieties.
5. Every day do something you enjoy- A positive attitude, outlook or experience helps enormously in boosting energy levels. Boredom is a very common trigger for feelings of tiredness. Pick up your old hobbies or try a new one and do a little every day.
6. Have light exercise- Regular light exercises have been shown to decrease tiredness and fatigue. If you are used to regular exercise try to continue with this if you feel able. Even taking short walks in the fresh air may help to boost your energy levels. Before undertaking any gentle exercise please, consult with your doctor.
7. Lose weight to gain energy- If your body is carrying excess weight, it can be exhausting. It also puts extra strain on your heart, which can make you tired. Lose weight and you'll feel much more energetic. Apart from eating healthily, the best way to lose weight is to be more active and do more exercise.
8. Get assistance- Domestic chores use up a lot of energy and you could get help with them. Friends and family could help with shopping and housework or social services may be able to arrange help for you. It doesn't mean you are becoming dependent, it means you are using your energy to its best advantage.
9. Contact your family doctor- Tell your doctor how you feel and make sure you have had an up-to-date physical. Besides evaluating any medical reasons for your tiredness, your doctor also may check to see if your fatigue could be a side effect of your medication.
10. Talking therapy beats fatigue- There's some evidence that talking therapies such as counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) might help to fight fatigue. See your GP for a referral for talking treatment on the NHS or for advice on seeing a private therapist.

Some of the suggestions will be more effective for some people than others. Experiment with different combinations. Find what works best for you, plan ahead and don't be afraid to ask for help.-By Brad P Yantzi

Too Much Sleep Can Make You Tired - Symptoms of Sleeping Too Much

There are two things that all people like to do, regardless of age, race, height, weight, looks, etc. Those things are eating and sleeping. For this reason, many people become overweight or oversleep too much.

Did you know that sleeping too long makes you more tired?

You would think that if you got a lot of sleep, you would be less tired and could go for longer without needing to sleep again. Unfortunately it doesn't work this way. When you sleep, your mind and body are doing many complex functions such as repairing muscle, organizing memories, putting the things you have learned for the day in the proper places, etc, etc. This process is actually quite strenuous on the mind which is why when you wake up after sleeping too long, you often feel more tired than you did when you first went to sleep.

Symptoms of oversleeping

The most common symptoms of sleeping too long include:

• Headaches that last throughout the day.
• Difficulty focusing and remembering things.
• You feel real slow and out of it.
• Extra tired during the day.

Sleeping too long may indicate that you are developing a sleeping disorder If you are sleeping too long, it may be because your body isn't going into deep REM sleep and tries to make up for it by making you sleep longer during the night. Without deep REM, your body isn't shutting down enough to give you body and mind ample chance to repair and recover.

By Daniel Kooper