What is liver?
The liver is an important organ, present in the right side of the human body, right below the diaphragm, in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. It is a reddish-brown organ that is quite large and weighs about 3 pounds. The liver’s location is secure and is partly protected by the rib cage and is situated close to the stomach, gallbladder and the pancreas. The main role of the liver is to regulate various chemicals in the body. Together, the liver, pancreas and gallbladder work in tandem to maintain the metabolism of the body by regulating enzymes for digestion, absorption and processing of food.
The liver has over 500 vital functions such as the detoxification of chemicals and metabolization of drugs. It secretes bile, an important chemical that aids in the digestion of lipids in the intestines. The liver also regulates glycogen storage and is involved in the decomposition of RBCs and processing of hemoglobin for use of its iron content.
Liver function may be affected by several factors ranging from genetic to environmental to lifestyle. It’s not easy to detect a liver disorder. Liver problems are often diagnosed only when you undergo a liver function test or a liver blood test.
You can also get a full body check up on the MFIne app which includes a comprehensive liver function test as well.
In case you notice symptoms such as yellowish skin and eyes (often an indication of jaundice), abdominal pain especially on the right side, swollen hands and legs, darker urine, excessive fatigue, nausea or vomiting, you should speak to a general physician.
A general physician in city_name_label will then prescribe a liver function test or a liver blood test after a consultation to confirm the diagnosis.
What is liver disorder?
Liver disorders encompass many conditions, the most common ones being: Hepatitis, Fatty liver disease, Cancer, Cirrhosis disease, Liver failure and other autoimmune liver conditions.
Hepatitis:
Hepatitis is a viral infection of the liver that causes severe inflammation and damage to the liver tissue, making it difficult for the liver to function properly.
There are five types of Hepatitis – A,B, C,D and E. Most people get vaccinated for A and B in their early years.
- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E are transmitted through close physical contact as well as faeco-oral routes. Eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water can spread Hepatitis A.
- Hepatitis B is most commonly spread from mother to child during time or birth or through exposure to infected bodily fluids.
- Hepatitis C and B most commonly occur through contacting the blood of an infected person. This may happen through sharing needles and syringes. It’s always essential to use sterilised needles to prevent infection.
Hepatitis is best detected through liver screening. So get a liver screening test done regularly to diagnose this condition. A general physician in city_name_label will diagnose hepatitis through a liver blood test.
Fatty Liver disease:
Fatty liver or hepatic steatosis occurs when fat builds up inside the liver. It’s normal to have some amount of fat but when it exceeds normal amounts, it becomes a cause of concern. Grade-1 fatty liver disease is diagnosable, controllable and reversible. There are two types of fatty liver disease – Alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Liver Cirrhosis:
Liver Cirrhosis is a serious condition of the liver that is characterised by repeated and chronic scarring of the liver tissue. Cirrhosis causes are often a result of other liver diseases such as Hepatitis and chronic alcoholism. Every time your liver faces damage, it repairs itself and may leave a scar in the process. Repeated self-repair leads to serious scarring of the liver tissue which may lead to various symptoms like fatigue, weight loss, easy bleeding and jaundice. A liver screening test is a good way to determine if your body has signs of cirrhosis or not. Alcoholic liver diseases are serious and need to be addressed at the earliest.
Liver Cancer:
Hepatocellular carcinoma or cancer of the liver cells is the most common type of liver cancer. Liver cancer also manifests through cancers of neighbouring organs such as stomach, gallbladder and pancreas. A liver function test or a liver enzyme test will help determine cancer risks, so it’s very important to get your liver checked regularly.
Acute and Chronic Liver Failure:
Acute liver failure occurs within days or weeks whereas chronic liver failure occurs over a period of time. Both are serious conditions that require immediate medical attention; Acute liver failure more so than ever.
Consult a liver specialist or general physician in city_name_label through the MFine App if you experience any symptoms of liver function diseases and make sure you receive the right medical guidance.
FAQs
When to take a liver function test?
If you feel that you are facing symptoms of a liver disorder, you should definitely take a liver function test. Common symptoms include yellowish skin and eyes(often an indication of jaundice), abdominal pain especially on the right side, swollen hands and legs, darker urine, excessive fatigue, nausea or vomiting. A liver blood test checks the levels of enzymes, proteins and bile in your blood to see if your liver is functioning properly or not.
What does a liver function test include?
Our liver function health package includes a series of blood tests that determine the level of proteins and enzymes in your blood. It measures the level of enzymes the liver produces and also how much bile the liver clears out in the blood. Some common tests include testing for ALT, AST, ALP, albumin and total protein, Bilirubin to name a few.
Based on the results, your general physician in city_name_label will recommend a course of treatment or even refer you to a liver specialist if needed.
How to take a liver function test online?
You can easily book an appointment online for a liver function test at home in city_name_label through the MFine app and get your tests done conveniently. You can also download the MFine app and connect with doctors and the best general physicians in city_name_label. A medical professional from lab_label or lab_label will visit your doorstep to collect your blood sample and the results will be shared with you online. You can consult a doctor online immediately through instant chat and video consultation and make good health a priority today!
Who should take these tests?
You should get a liver function test if you are experiencing symptoms of a liver disorder such as yellowish skin and eyes, abdominal pain especially on the right side, swelling in hands and legs, darker brownish urine, excessive fatigue, nausea and vomiting. You can speak to a general doctor in city_name_label to understand your symptoms better.
Do I need to practice fasting before the blood test?
A liver blood test ideally requires 8-10 hours of fasting to show accurate results. Thus, once you book a liver function test, you will be required to keep a gap of 8-10 or even better 10-12 hours between your last meal and the time of your test.
When will I get the reports?
Once our phlebotomist collects your blood sample from home, it takes around 48 hours to process and analyse the results in our partner labs. Post this, the results will be uploaded onto your profile on the MFine app and will be available for you to check anytime.
What happens once I get my results?
You can get in touch with a general physician in city_name_label once the results of your liver blood test are completed. He/She will discuss the results with you and suggest treatment accordingly. You may also be referred to a liver specialist if required.
Do I need a doctor’s prescription for the tests?
A liver function test does not require a doctor’s prescription since it is taken to detect liver issues in the earlier stage itself. However, we recommend seeing a general physician, gastroenterologist or a liver specialist before availing a liver function health care package so that they may understand your symptoms better first.
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