What is the Liver?
The liver is both an essential organ and a gland, performing hundreds of various functions throughout the body, and is responsible for producing proteins and hormones for other parts of the body.
What Does the Liver Do For Your Body?
While the liver is responsible for hundreds of different functions that allow you to move through your daily routine with ease, one of the liver’s biggest roles is cleaning your blood.
According to the American Liver Foundation, “the liver filters more than a liter of blood every minute.” That equates to about 250 gallons of blood in one day!
Other vital functions of the liver include:
- Ridding the body of old red blood cells
- Producing bile to help the body break down food
- Storing glycogen and other vitamins for the body to use later
- Regulate blood clotting
- Fight infections
- Produce proteins for blood plasma, cholesterol, and other proteins to help carry fat through the body
- Removes bilirubin from red blood cells
What Can an MRI of the Liver Show? A Closer Look at Liver Conditions
While we can feel our lungs and heart hard at work, our liver works under the radar. Because of its silent work ethic, we often don’t think about our liver unless a problem arises.
A whole-body MRI scan can help detect certain liver disorders, from fatty liver disease to liver metastasis. It may also help to detect and differentiate between a benign or precancerous liver tumor, protecting you from a future filled with doctor’s appointments and recovery.
A full-body scan near you can produce detailed images of your body’s internal structure, from organs to blood vessels and everything in between. This extensive imagery scan provides a high level of accuracy when diagnosing liver conditions or areas of concern, such as abnormal growths.
When Do You Need an MRI of the Liver?
Liver diseases often go unnoticed, with symptoms not arising until advanced stages of the disease have set in. One of the most common signs of a problem with your liver is jaundice or yellowing of the skin.
Jaundice occurs when there is a buildup of bilirubin in the bloodstream. Bilirubin is the byproduct the liver gets rid of when it breaks down red blood cells. Typically yellow in pigment, high levels of bilirubin indicate that the liver is having issues processing it into bile to be removed from the body.
Other symptoms that indicate a problem with your liver may include:
- Easy bruising
- Itchy skin
- Low blood pressure
- Abdominal pain
- Swelling in the legs or ankles
- Uncontrollable shaking
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Confusion or loss of orientation
Set Your Sights on Peace of Mind with MRI Wellness
The liver is the star student in class, silently performing more than 500 vital functions easily. From converting your food to energy to removing harmful substances from your body, the liver is an essential part of keeping you and your body on the move.
When your liver experiences a setback, a full body MRI scan near you may be the very thing to help get you back on your feet. Early detection of various liver diseases allows you to take back control over your health and empowers you to live with peace of mind.
Located in Charleston, SC, our innovative MRI system at MRI Wellness delivers a comprehensive report, assessing your risk of disease and focusing on early detection efforts, allowing you to take a proactive approach to your health.
Dedicate your time to your overall health and wellness by scheduling an appointment with us today!
