Why Is Liver Disease Screening Important?

At Associates in Gastroenterology, PC in Colorado Springs, patients have questions about liver disease screening. Because liver disease often progresses without symptoms, screening can be beneficial even when you have no complaints. In this article, we answer common queries such as who should be screened, what testing can include, and when you should talk to your provider about your risk level.

Resource: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

What Is Liver Screening?

Liver screening helps detect early signs of liver problems. The liver performs hundreds of functions, including filtration and digestion. A liver screening looks for changes that may lead to disease over time, such as swelling, fat buildup, or scarring. Many liver problems cause few or no symptoms in the early stages, which makes screening one of the best ways to check your liver health.

Who Should Get Liver Disease Screening?

Your age and family history can affect your risk of liver disease. Age is one factor, as the risk of certain liver conditions increases over time. A family history of liver disease can also be an important risk factor, especially if a close relative has had liver disease. Screening gives you an appropriate reason to bring this topic up with your provider and ask whether testing makes sense for you.

Do I Need Liver Screening If I Am Symptom-Free?

Liver disease can progress without many symptoms in early stages. This can be hard to identify when you don’t feel ill. A screening can detect health problems earlier in their course, which means you might have more options to restore or optimize liver health and to select an appropriate treatment regimen. Your provider can help determine whether a liver disease screening would make sense for you based on your individual risk factors, even if you are feeling well.

What Are the Most Common Liver Disease Risk Factors?

Lifestyle Risk Factors

The decisions and activities that you engage in throughout the course of your day can make a difference in the health of your liver. How much you drink, how nutritious and balanced your diet is, and how healthy your weight is can affect your likelihood of developing liver disease. A history of excessive drinking can result in irreversible liver damage. Consuming a diet that is very high in fat or sugar can encourage fat deposition in the liver. Additionally, carrying excess body weight is a contributor to fatty liver disease. Fortunately, there are measures available to lower some of these risk factors as you age, such as practicing moderation and moderation in drinking, maintaining healthy food habits, exercising more, and losing extra pounds, if necessary.

Medical and Genetic Risk Factors

Certain medical conditions and genetic diseases can also affect your risk of developing liver disease. Common risk factors include excess weight, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and hepatitis B or C. Liver disease can run in families, so family history is also worth discussing with your provider. The more information you share about your medical history and family history, the clearer your risk profile will be.

Early Symptoms and Signs

What Early Liver Symptoms Might I Be Experiencing?

Early liver disease may cause only mild symptoms. Possible early signs of liver disease can include ongoing fatigue, a vague or full feeling in the upper right area of the abdomen, unexplained weight loss, unexplained weight gain, or general weakness. These symptoms can also point to other health concerns, so having one or more of them does not automatically mean you have liver disease. Report symptoms to your doctor if you begin to notice them regularly.

Why Do Doctors Often Say Liver Disease Is Silent?

Liver disease is often called silent because it can progress before obvious symptoms appear. The liver can continue to function for years, even when damage is present in certain areas. This means you may not know something is wrong until the disease is more serious. Symptoms often appear after the disease has progressed. Screening can find problems before symptoms appear, giving you and your provider time to act.

When Do Most Liver Disease Symptoms Start?

Liver disease often becomes noticeable only after damage has been present for some time. Relying on how you feel may mean you miss an earlier opportunity to slow or manage the disease. Testing before symptoms start can help identify liver damage while there may still be time to protect your health.

What Does a Liver Screening Include?

What Should I Expect at Associates in Gastroenterology, PC?

A liver screening usually starts with a discussion about your health history, family history, lifestyle, and current concerns. Your gastroenterologist may then order a blood test or liver ultrasound if needed. The process is straightforward and handled as comfortably as possible. At Associates in Gastroenterology, PC, our team will review the test process and explain what to expect.

How Will My Results Be Presented to Me?

You and your physician will discuss your screening results to understand them in easy-to-understand terms. Blood tests can determine levels of various liver enzymes to provide your gastroenterologist with information to help assess the health of your liver. Additionally, an ultrasound may be used to visualize the structure of your liver, fluid buildup within the organ, or other changes in the liver. If you have questions about what the results mean, we are happy to discuss them. Please don’t hesitate to ask until you feel like you understand your results.

What Should I Do If I Am Worried About My Liver Screening Results?

It does not always mean something is seriously wrong if screening results come back unexpectedly. Your gastroenterologist may ask for more details by ordering a repeat liver screening, blood tests, or imaging. Screening tests can detect diseases such as liver disease, but many of these can be treated, especially if found early. Your gastroenterologist will tell you why further testing or treatment may be recommended and assist you as you take the next steps.

Why Should I See a Doctor About Liver Disease Screening?

What Liver Disease Symptoms Should I Tell My Doctor About?

If you observe any of the following symptoms, tell your gastroenterologist:

• Yellow skin or eyes
• Dark-colored urine
• Recurrent abdominal pain or bloating
• Recurrent nausea or vomiting
• Abnormal fatigue
• Easy or increased bruising or bleeding
• Unexpected weight gain or loss

Although these symptoms may not indicate liver disease, they should not be disregarded.

What If I Have Multiple Risk Factors?

Two or more risk factors can make screening more important. Examples include diabetes and a family history of liver disease, or heavy alcohol use and excess weight. Each factor can add to your total risk. Your provider may suggest earlier or more frequent screening based on your health history. A conversation with your doctor can help you choose a care plan that fits your needs.

Can Diet and Lifestyle Changes Help Prevent Liver Disease?

Diet and Nutrition Basics

Your diet matters for liver health. A diet friendly to your liver often has fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and adequate water. You may also want to decrease sugar, highly processed foods, and fried foods. Eating healthy isn’t all or nothing. Consistent changes to improve your eating habits may help your liver stay healthier for years to come.

Alcohol, Exercise, and Weight Management

Alcohol consumption, activity, and your weight are a few aspects of healthy living that influence liver health. Limiting alcohol use or avoiding alcohol may ease the workload on your liver. Exercise, such as a daily walk, may aid in healthy weight management and decrease your liver disease risk. Changing some of your daily habits in these ways may have a big impact on your liver and overall health.

Making Changes That Last

Dramatic lifestyle changes usually don’t happen all at once. Make modest changes. Consider having a bottle of water instead of a bottle of soda, walking 20 minutes daily, or choosing a healthier meal each day. Small changes that you can do repeatedly may prove more beneficial than making unrealistic changes. In time, these may help your health.

Resource: liverfoundation.org

Why Is It Important to Screen Early?

Benefits of Early Screening

Diagnosing a liver condition early may provide you with more choices and prognosis. An early liver disease diagnosis may allow for immediate changes to your habits, your health monitoring, and treatment if needed. You may also feel more equipped to take care of your health.

Resource: mayoclinic.org

Why Early Care Matters

A delayed diagnosis of liver disease may not only allow the disease to progress further, but may also make it more difficult for you to care for your health. Liver disease may be more manageable if caught early, such as in the case of alcohol-related liver disease, liver disease from excess weight, and liver disease from a poor diet. You may have fewer options to address a problem as your diagnosis is later in the disease progression. It may allow for earlier action on your and your doctor’s part to address disease and keep you healthy.

When Should You Screen?

There are medical and practical reasons to discuss getting screened soon. Liver disease can become more difficult to treat as it progresses, and you may need more care. An early screening appointment may allow you and your doctor to make more straightforward, safe choices to keep you as healthy as possible.

Resource: my.clevelandclinic.org

Final Thoughts

Your liver can be silent for a very long time, which makes screening important. Learning your personal risk factors and discussing screening with your provider can put you in a better position to catch liver disease earlier. Patients should not base the decision to screen only on whether they feel sick. The next step is to schedule an appointment with Associates in Gastroenterology, PC.