Countless metabolic activities occur in the liver, which has a greater capacity to heal, but specific ailments and an unhealthy lifestyle cause radical changes and impair the organ's basic function. Liver disease doesn't always cause noticeable signs and symptoms.Laboratory testing procedures come in here, allowing doctors to evaluate the organ's functional and structural condition and find the possible causes of the liver problem.
The liver's importance cannot be overemphasized. It impacts the endocrine and digestive systems, is involved in metabolic pathways and bile production, and filters dangerous compounds that invade our system through the air-water and food, amongst other things.
At-home tests, such as liver test kits are becoming more and more popular these days, as people become more interested in their wellbeing. But what are liver test kits, and what do they do? In this blog article, we'll take a closer look at liver test kits, what they can tell you about your health, and how you can use them to improve your wellbeing. So read on to learn more!
What are the functions of the liver
Some of them include:
- Bile production: Bile is an important fluid because it helps excrete material that the kidneys do not excrete and aids in the absorption and digestion of lipids through the secretion of bile salts and acids.
- Fat-Soluble Vitamin Storage and/or Metabolism: The liver stores and/or metabolizes fat-soluble vitamins.
- Drug Metabolism: Another critical function of the liver is metabolism and/or detoxification of xenobiotics.
- Bilirubin Metabolism: The liver receives unconjugated bilirubin bound to albumin from the circulation. Most conjugated bilirubin enters the bile and is excreted with bile in feces as it is not absorbable by the intestinal wall.
- Other Function: The liver plays a role in thyroid hormone function. The liver manages the synthesis of nearly every plasma protein in the body.
What are other factors contributing to liver problems?
The work of the liver can be disturbed under the influence of various factors and diseases. For example, ammonia often ceases to be entirely excreted by a weak liver and accumulates in the body. If the liver is damaged further, toxic ammonia will gather in the blood, and elevated ammonia levels in the body can lead to impaired brain functions.
The main factors contributing to various liver diseases are:
- Unhealthy diet.
- Chronic alcohol abuse
- Certain prescription or over-the-counter medications
- Certain herbal compounds
- Obesity
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Unprotected sex
- Exposure to certain chemicals or toxins
- Family history of liver disease
Urine Liver test kits
At-home liver test kits have been used over the years. Their packaging usually includes detailed test instructions to ensure the best results. The dipstick liver test kit is a strip of paper that reacts with the chemicals in your urine. The test strips are polymerized with special materials that react to the presence of bilirubin and urobilinogen in the urine. This is one of the most straightforward urine test strips for liver function. Deviation from the norm of urobilinogen and bilirubin indicates possible disorders in the liver.
When to use liver test kits?
The test can be used at any time. At-home urine liver test kits can be used to monitor liver health at the comfort of your home but don’t forget to consult a healthcare provider if you get a result indicating liver issues from your tests.
What can be detected with the urine liver test kit
At-home urine liver test measures the levels of bilirubin in your urine. A healthy liver removes most of the bilirubin from your body. But if there is a problem with your liver, bilirubin can build up in your blood and get into your urine. Normally, urine doesn't have any bilirubin. If there is bilirubin in your urine, talk with your healthcare professionals about your results.
Symptoms that you might have liver problems
Fatigue, weight loss, and nausea may indicate liver problems, but the same symptoms are common in many other health problems, so they are not strong indicators. Other symptoms of liver problems include:
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased appetite
- Yellow skin and sclera
- Enlargement of the liver in size (typically, the liver does not protrude from under the ribs)
- Itchy skin
- Sudden loss of muscle mass, sudden swelling of the legs, enlargement of the abdomen, and bleeding disorders
- Sleep deprivation: A common symptom of liver problems is insomnia. Sufferers usually feel drowsy throughout the day and remain unable to sleep.
Actions to heal your liver
In the case of liver problems caused by a toxic factor, such as alcohol or drugs, it is crucial to limit or, if possible, eliminate it. In other cases, everything related to a healthy lifestyle is helpful for the liver:
- Reducing excess weight
- Healthy and balanced nutrition
- Partaking in exercise and sports
- Not using unnecessary medication
- Drinking enough fluids
Food like garlic, avocado, and green tea has also been highly beneficial in helping to detoxification of the liver. To improve your liver function, you can also read these:
Support Liver Detox By Eating Cruciferous Vegetables
Is Drinking Coffee Good for the Liver?
A Key to Liver Health- Active Lifestyles
