7 warning signs of liver disease

Jaundice, bloating, itchy skin, swollen ankles, and persistent fatigue are common symptoms often seen in people with liver disease.

There are over 100 different liver-related diseases, caused by various factors such as infections, excessive alcohol consumption, self-medication, obesity, and cancer.

Most liver diseases damage the organ in similar ways, leading to similar symptoms. Below are symptoms that indicate your liver is having problems.

Jaundice: This condition can occur in the whites of the eyes or the skin. The signs are more pronounced when the liver is severely or extensively damaged. Jaundice is usually caused by the accumulation of bilirubin, a yellow pigment from red blood cells. Normally, the liver is responsible for removing bilirubin from the body, but when the liver is damaged, this function is impaired, causing bilirubin levels to increase.

Itchy skin: People with certain chronic liver diseases often experience itchy skin, which may or may not be accompanied by a rash. The itching affects quality of life, causing difficulty sleeping and fatigue. Those experiencing this should see a doctor for examination and may need further testing.

Liver disease often causes itchy skin. (Illustration: Freepik)

Abdominal swelling (ascites): This condition is common in people with liver scarring. Scarring blocks blood flow to the liver, increasing pressure in the surrounding blood vessels, forcing fluid to leak out and accumulate in the abdomen. The upper abdomen, above the navel, is often distended, sometimes with ascites due to infection, requiring antibiotic treatment.

Swelling of the legs or ankles : In some people with ascites, the legs and ankles also swell due to fluid accumulation. Patients should eat less salt or take diuretics to reduce fluid retention.

Pale stools and dark urine: The liver produces bile salts, which give stools their dark color. If the liver doesn't produce bile properly, or if blood flow from the liver is obstructed, stools are often pale, like clay. Pale stools are often accompanied by jaundice. Excess bilirubin causes jaundice and abnormally dark urine.

Persistent fatigue: Common in people with liver disease, due to toxins accumulating in the body, affecting brain function. People with liver disease may have difficulty concentrating and be more forgetful than healthy individuals.

Easy bruising or bleeding: If the liver isn't functioning properly, the skin bruises easily because blood clotting is impaired. Even a small cut can cause significant bleeding.

In its early stages, liver disease has no obvious symptoms, which usually become apparent when liver damage becomes more severe.

Everyone should prevent disease early by changing their lifestyle, eating healthily, losing weight, supplementing with foods rich in vitamin A, and exercising for at least 30 minutes each day. Limit alcohol consumption and do not self-medicate without a doctor's prescription.

( According to WebMD)

Readers can ask questions about digestive diseases here for doctors to answer.

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