The liver is a vital organ that is necessary for several functions critical to our health and well-being. When the liver is damaged and liver function is compromised, overall health begins to suffer. While signs and symptoms of liver damage are not always obvious at first, as the disease progresses and the liver function continues to decline symptoms often become severe very quickly.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Liver is the emotions of anger, resentment, unfulfilled desires, and frustration. When the Liver energy, or qi, is flowing smoothly, the individual is happy and healthy, but when the Liver is out of balance, the qi becomes stagnant.

Symptoms of Stagnant Liver Qi

• distention and swelling in the abdomen,
• depression and melancholy,
• diarrhea,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• epigastric pain,
• reduced appetite,
• sour reflux,
• belching,
• redness in the face,
• fever and constipation.

Even TCM recognizes the impact liver health had on functions like digestion, immunity and overall well-being!

10 Symptoms of Liver Damage

1. Bruising & Bleeding – The liver produces protein factors necessary for clotting, so when liver function begins to fail, increased bruising and bleeding may be noticed.
2. Digestive Problems – The liver plays a critical role in breaking down fats (lipids) and carbohydrates (sugars). When the liver is not functioning properly, digestive complaints begin to surface, including nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and reflux. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) may also be a sign of liver function decline.
3. “Spare Tire” – When the liver is overcome with sugar that the body cannot burn, the liver converts this energy into glycogen, and stores it as fat. This fat tends to accumulate in the upper abdominal area, giving the appearance of the “spare tire” or “liver roll,” which is a roll of fat around the upper abdomen.
4. Swelling & Pain – Swelling, bloating, pain or itching in the right, upper quadrant of the abdomen may be a sign of damage in the liver. Unexplained lumps in this area may indicate a tumor or cancer.
5. Gallbladder Problems – Gallstones and gallbladder disease may be a symptom of a larger problem, as liver disease is the inability to tolerate fatty foods.
6. Jaundice – Bilirubin, which creates the yellowing of eyes and skin, is produced when the liver breaks down old red blood cells and cannot properly divert bilirubin into the intestines for removal. When this happens, the stool becomes pale and the urine becomes dark as the kidneys attempt to remove the excess bilirubin from the body.
7. Fatigue & Depression – The liver is critical in many functions in the body that impact our energy levels and endocrine systems (hormonal). It is not fully understood why, but liver disease has a very high correlation with fatigue and depression and can be associated with a mental “fog” that is commonly associated with fibromyalgia.
8. Autoimmune Diseases – There are several autoimmune diseases and conditions that are associated with compromised liver function, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, skin rashes, allergies, food sensitivities and others.
9. Red Face & Sweating – In Chinese medicine, the liver is associated with anger and “heat,” or fever, redness and an excess of heat. Those with liver damage often appear red-faced with excessive sweating, overheating, and may even have a fever.
10. Type-2 Diabetes – Because the liver is responsible for managing excess sugar that our body cannot use, it is closely associated with diabetes. The liver stores excess sugar (glucose) as fat, but sometimes, when we chronically eat too much sugar, the liver becomes clogged with fat creating a fatty liver (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD).

If you are experiencing symptoms of liver damage, it is important that you discuss your concerns with a qualified physician. The liver is a vital organ and its functions critically impact our overall health.

The tech broligarchs are setting their sights on politics.

No, I’m not talking about what’s happening in the United States. This is right here in Canada.

A group of CEOs, founders and other executives have decided they’re tired of their voices going unheard. This group — one that has struggled with being represented in powerful political arenas — is getting organized.

(If you didn’t read the sarcasm in the preceding paragraph, please re-read it with the intended tone).

What The Logic recently reported on as a tech bro group chat, “Build Canada,” is now a public platform where C-suite voices will pontificate about potential policy changes they think could help Canada “build again.”

The website is officially LIVE. So I scrolled through. It’s…quite something.

Let’s chat about it.

Bidwell Street is a prominent residential street in Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood, running roughly north-south near the waterfront in Downtown Vancouver. It is located in the West End, one of Vancouver’s densest and most walkable neighbourhoods (Walk Score of 99/100 — a “Walker’s Paradise”). The street runs close to English Bay Beach (one end borders the beach area between Gilford and Bidwell) and is very near Stanley Park, the Seawall, and Alexandra Park. It offers easy access to Davie Village (a lively commercial strip with shops, restaurants, and services) and is steps from the ocean, making it highly desirable for both residents and visitors.

Many buildings on Bidwell offer stunning views of English Bay, sunsets, and beach life. The area is popular for walking, cycling, and enjoying the waterfront. Located at the southern end (near Beach Avenue), Alexandra Park includes the historic Haywood Bandstand and is a peaceful green space. The street features a blend of older heritage and mid-century buildings (e.g., English Bay Mansions, Imperial Apartments at 1255 Bidwell), modern luxury condos, such as Alexandra English Bay at 1221 Bidwell (a 2013 high-rise with premium amenities and high-end units), and newer rental buildings (e.g., 1188 Bidwell, a pet-friendly beachside rental).

The street (and nearby English Bay) is named after Edward Parker Bedwell, a 19th-century British naval officer involved in surveying the area. There are several heritage buildings and sites, including early 20th-century structures and former cottages near Alexandra Park (some of which were demolished in the early 2000s). Notable spots include the building at 1209 Bidwell (now JJ Bean Coffee, with historic ties and local lore).

Bidwell Street is known for upscale and convenient living, with many condos and rentals targeting professionals, empty-nesters, and those who want walkable access to beaches and parks. Properties here often command premium prices due to the location. It’s a quieter residential street compared to busier nearby arteries like Davie or Denman, yet it’s still central to everything the West End offers.

Calgary’s iconic and mostly vacant downtown Hudson’s Bay Building is on the verge of being acquired by a Calgary real estate firm known for property redevelopment.

Court filings indicate Astra Real Estate Corp. entered into a purchase agreement for the 114-year-old building on Feb. 18, with an outside completion date for the deal listed as May 30.

It joins agreements in place to purchase Hudson’s Bay buildings in Vancouver, Ottawa and Windsor that involve different buyers.

A spokesperson for Astra wouldn’t comment on the move “until we take possession.”

The company has been involved in a number of office-to-residential conversions of downtown Calgary, which have included a focus on affordable housing.

The impending Calgary deal could be a major step in preserving cherished elements of the structure in the heart of downtown, after its operations ceased last June with the financial collapse of the historic Hudson’s Bay retail empire.

The six-storey, Chicago commercial-style building with its terra cotta cladding was a model for the Bay’s western Canadian expansion, with architecturally notable stores following in Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg.

Since the store’s closure, concerns have arisen over its future, preservation and the deterioration of the aging building’s condition.

It lacks municipal or provincial historical designation, which would prevent demolition or significant alteration, and refurbishing its electrical, mechanical and structural integrity would cost many millions of dollars.

The National Trust for Canada included the building in its endangered places list last fall.

The Hudson’s Bay Co. had entered into a joint venture with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust. After the Bay filed for creditor protection a year ago, RioCan indicated it wouldn’t invest any more into the site.

The news of the purchase was welcomed by downtown business and historical preservation groups.

“Astra Real Estate Corp. . . . have a demonstrated history of working with heritage properties and a strong track record of preservation and stewardship,” said Erika Topola, executive director of Heritage Calgary.

“Historic buildings are important anchors of Calgary’s identity, and it is exciting to see this landmark move into the hands of owners who understand the value of protecting architectural character while thoughtfully planning for its future. We look forward to seeing how this iconic building can continue to contribute to the vibrancy and story of our downtown for generations to come.”

The Calgary Downtown Association was similarly upbeat, saying it looks forward to discussions with Astra on how best to preserve the historically important and economically viable aspects of the “downtown landmark.”

“The building holds generations of memories for Calgarians, and its future will play an important role in the continued vibrancy and momentum of Stephen Avenue and downtown Calgary,” association spokesperson Bre Tighe said in an email.

In recent years, the building has become host to an events centre on its sixth floor and a restaurant on the bottom level.

Commercial real estate experts have said the downtown structure has considerable potential to be further subdivided for commercial and residential use, while ideally preserving its iconic facade.

The building has a rich history of expansion and redevelopment, undergoing changes in the 1930s and 1950s, and successive modernizations.

In its heyday, the downtown Bay boasted 40 departments, including a post office, telegraph station, men’s smoking lounge, nursery, library and medical clinic.

Although there are many possible causes of liver disease, the most commonly reported symptom ties most liver disease experiences together: fatigue.

We have all experienced fatigue, but the severe, constant fatigue that is endemic to chronic liver disease can be debilitating. If you have a chronic liver ailment and are struggling with tiredness, it is not all in your head. There are a handful of physiological reasons explaining why chronic liver disease and fatigue go hand in hand.

Although liver disease by itself saps energy levels, there is a long list of complicating issues that may exacerbate or contribute to fatigue.

7 Factors Known to Increase Fatigue

• Stress
• Poor nutrition
• Depression
• Inactivity
• Chronic pain
• Medications
• Illness

Even so, those with chronic liver disease are at a particular disadvantage when it comes to having sufficient energy levels. Despite the many different causes (a hepatitis virus, excessive fat accumulation, alcoholism, bile duct problems, etc.), liver disease stresses your liver, making this valuable organ vulnerable to cellular damage and scarring. Injury to its cells reduces your liver’s ability to accomplish the many jobs it is responsible for.

The following four points make it easy to see why there’s a connection between fatigue and liver disease:

Glycogen Storage – Your liver helps supply your body with energy by converting glucose into glycogen and storing it for later use. If your liver is compromised, it is less able to convert glucose to glycogen, less able to store the glycogen, and less able to release the glycogen when energy is needed.

Brain-Immune Dysfunction – The continued, long-term response of the immune system to liver injury contributes to fatigue. The release of neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) is part of a healthy immune system response. When your body is stressed, your immune system is activated, causing your brain to release chemicals for self-protection. Liver disease inflicts chronic, uncontrollable stress, weakening your immune system and decreasing the release of certain brain neurotransmitters. The reduction in neurotransmitters is a suspected factor in severe fatigue.

Anemia – A condition describing a deficiency in red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout the body, anemia causes severe fatigue. According to a Spanish research report published in the October 2009 issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology, anemia occurs in about 75 percent of patients with chronic liver disease. Experts believe that hemorrhage of blood into the gastrointestinal tract is a major cause of anemia in individuals with chronic liver disease.

Metabolism – Your liver helps create energy via metabolism, the process of converting your food into energy. An impaired liver has fewer functioning liver cells available to metabolize the protein, fat and carbohydrates you consume.

The fatigue you might be feeling with chronic liver disease is not a figment of your imagination. There are several physiological reasons why impaired liver function reduces energy levels. Providing your body with antioxidants, vitamins, herbs and nutrients that strengthen the liver, the cell’s mitochondria and the immune system while also nurturing metabolism, can help restore your energy levels when it is needed most.

Leninsky Avenue (Russian: Ле́нинский проспе́кт) is a major avenue in Moscow, Russia, that runs in the south-western direction between Kaluzhskaya Square in the central part of the city through Gagarin Square to the Moscow Ring Road. It is a part of the M3 highway which continues from Moscow to Kaluga and Bryansk to the border with Ukraine, and provides connections with Kiev and Odessa. It is also a part of the European route E101 connecting Moscow and Kiev. It is the second widest street in Moscow after Leningradsky Avenue. Its width varies between 108 and 120 metres.