Liver Damage Symptoms
The liver is an organ that is found in the upper right hand side of the abdomen. It is mostly protected by the rib case. Of all the organs in the human body, the liver is one of the most important. It secretes bile into the intestines to aid in the digestion of fat. It purifies the blood by changing chemicals into harmless ones. It produces important proteins needed for good health such as albumin which is a building-block of the body.
Because of this, when there is liver damage that is excessive, it becomes very difficult for the individual to survive. The liver continuously comes under bombardment from different toxins naturally such as ammonia when proteins are broken up. However, the liver is able to heal quickly. However, add into the mix chemicals such as alcohol and over the counter medications and suddenly, the liver is working a lot harder. This can lead to considerable liver damage.
Symptoms of Liver Damage
With mild cases of liver disease, there are very few symptoms. Most of the time, they are nonspecific symptoms which means that they are symptoms that don’t suggest the liver as the cause. These symptoms are:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Abdominal pains, but very vague
- Loss of appetite
As the disease progresses and becomes more severe, the symptoms that are specific to liver disease begin to appear. These symptoms are:
- Jaundice which is the yellow of the skin. This happens because of the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is what is produced due to the breakdown of hemoglobin. Typically, the liver handles this, but when there is liver damage, it can’t get rid of it.
- Increased itching
- Easy bruising. This is due to the decreased production of the blood clotting factors. As mentioned previously, it helps to make important proteins such as albumin.
Finally, when the liver damage has gotten even more severe and advanced with cirrhosis, it can produce a set of symptoms that is specifically related to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the scarring of the liver. The symptoms of this stage are:
- Edema and ascites. This is fluid accumulation in the legs and abdomen respectively.
- Mental confusion
- Kidney failure
- Coma
- Increased vulnerability to bacterial infections
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
Because of the severity of liver disease, it is important to see a doctor if the symptoms that are connected to liver disease begin to pop up. To be on the safe side, going when there are the original symptoms is a smart move because the doctor can diagnose the liver damage earlier. The earlier liver damage is caught, the more effective treatment can be because there is more liver to be strong. Sometimes, the entire liver has to be replaced by a new one (if there is a donor).
Liver disease is a very dangerous disease and the damage that is caused from it can be life-threatening. Getting diagnosed and treated as early as possible is imperative to ensure that there is not considerable liver destruction.
