14 Signs of Liver Damage

While each type of liver disease has different symptoms, there are still some common signs. Identifying the signs of liver damage early and getting swift treatment can make a difference. However, it is difficult to diagnose liver disease in the early stage. Therefore, it is important to visit your doctor immediately if your body shows any of the following symptoms.

Abdominal pain

When the liver becomes inflamed or affected by liver disease, the protective tissue of the liver, Glisson's capsule, will signal to the brain that something is wrong with your liver. Liver pain often strikes the upper right side of the abdomen near the ribcage. It's dull, persistent aches in the upper abdomen. Liver damage causing pain can also lead to problems in other areas, such as backache and stomachache.

Nausea and Vomiting

An upset stomach is one of the early symptoms of liver disease. Liver damage will reduce the ability to eliminate waste products and toxins. Hence, there is an increase in digestive distress. And swelling in your abdomen can also cause nausea and vomiting. Because vomiting and nausea are reactions to excess waste products in the body, they are often linked to liver damage.

Weight and appetite loss

A damaged liver cannot produce enough amount of bile which helps digest food. The digestive systems will be disrupted, and the patient will suffer from a disinterest in food and weight loss. Other complications, such as nausea, vomiting and a swollen abdomen will also take away the desire to eat. They are early symptoms of liver problems.

Fatigue

In the early stages of liver disease, the patient might experience constant malaise and fatigue. People usually regard fatigue as a normal side effect of a stressful life, but severe exhaustion could potentially point to low blood-oxygen levels and the accumulation of waste products. It should be addressed immediately if the condition persists.

Fever

In the early stage of liver disease, the liver is struck by inflammation and infection. Due to declined liver function, toxins and waste products cannot be filtered and removed properly. They will build up in the human body and cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache and common cold.

Abdominal swelling (Ascites)

The liver produces various substances, including glycogen, bile and clotting factors. Therefore, liver malfunction can lead to an imbalance of protein and other compounds. It will make the fluid build up in the tissue, resulting in a swollen abdomen. This condition is called ascites. Cirrhosis is the most common cause of ascites.

Bruising

People with liver disease tend to bruise more easily. Because the liver can produce clotting factors, which work together with platelets to form a clot and stop bleeding. A damaged liver cannot efficiently produce the clotting factors required to heal a certain bruise, making the body bleed and bruise more easily.

Pruritus

Itchy skin that develops into flaky rashes is also a sign of liver damage. The exact cause of itching in liver disease is complicated. Problems with the liver can cause toxin buildup, which irritates the nerves and leads to itchy skin. The itching can be mild or severe, widespread or limited to certain areas, like the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.

Jaundice

Jaundice is caused by the build-up of a substance called bilirubin in the blood. This happens because the damaged liver cells cannot process bilirubin. Bilirubin is a bile pigment. When bodily waste cannot be eliminated efficiently, the bilirubin builds up in the bloodstream. This results in yellow skin and eyes, dark-colored urine and light-colored stools.

Edema

A damaged liver reduces the ability to produce and circulate proteins, which causes circulatory problems that lead to fluid retention in the body. The fluids move down to the lower parts of the body by gravity and accumulate in the lower extremities like legs, ankles and feet. Cirrhosis is the most common cause of edema. Edema caused by cirrhosis is soft edema. When pressed, it will leave a concave and after 1-2 minutes the skin will stretch again.

Mental and cognitive problems

When the liver isn't filtering toxins as it should, hepatic encephalopathy will happen. The toxins that build up in the blood will enter and affect the brain, causing confusion, disorientation, forgetfulness and other mental and cognitive changes. This usually happens in advanced liver disease, when liver functions begin to fail.