Dr Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist with a following of 473,000 on TikTok (@doctorsethimd), has shared four simple ways to check your liver health at home. The Harvard University graduate’s advice has gone viral after he posted a video captioned: “Liver Specialist: 4 simple at-home tests to check your liver health.”
In the clip, Dr Sethi explains: “Four simple tests you can do at home to check your liver health. I’m a liver specialist. First, look for yellowing of your skin and eyes, especially in natural light. This could indicate liver dysfunction.
He continues: “Second, dark yellow or amber urine might signal liver issues. Normal urine should be pale yellow. Third, watch for swelling around your midsection, which can indicate fluid build-up from liver problems.”
Lastly, he warns: “Fourth, pale or clay-coloured stools can be a sign of liver issues. Share this with your loved ones and follow me for more such liver health tips.” Maintaining a healthy weight and staying within the recommended alcohol limits can help prevent some types of liver disease.
Symptoms of liver disease
According to the NHS, most types of liver disease do not cause any symptoms in the early stages. Once you start to get symptoms of liver disease, your liver is already damaged and scarred. This is known as cirrhosis.
Symptoms of cirrhosis include:
- feeling very tired and weak all the time
- loss of appetite – which may lead to weight loss
- loss of sex drive (libido)
- yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- itchy skin
- feeling or being sick
The three main causes of liver disease are obesity, an undiagnosed hepatitis infection, and alcohol misuse. You can reduce your risk of many types of liver disease with some simple lifestyle changes such as trying to maintain a healthy weight and not drinking too much alcohol.