{"id":1355,"date":"2018-04-23T09:23:26","date_gmt":"2018-04-23T09:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=1355"},"modified":"2021-10-11T02:00:22","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T02:00:22","slug":"10-liver-disease-symptoms-that-require-immediate-attention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/10-liver-disease-symptoms-that-require-immediate-attention\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Liver Disease Symptoms that Require Immediate Attention"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The liver is the largest and heaviest internal organ in the human body. It is situated on the right side of the abdomen and partially extends to the left side of the abdomen. This organ is responsible for many vital functions. It produces proteins, factors that aid in blood clotting, synthesis glycogen, produces bile and manufactures cholesterol and triglycerides. The liver also metabolizes many of the toxins that are ingested, such as chemicals, medications, and drugs, as well as substances that occur naturally, such as insulin. Once these substances are metabolized by the liver, they are excreted by the kidneys in the form of urine.
\nLike any organ, the liver can be affected by the disease. These diseases can be the result of poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, taking large amounts of medications, and they can also be hereditary. The following are signs of liver disease that require immediate attention.<\/p>\n

1. Yellowing of the skin and\/or eyes<\/h3>\n

One of the most telltale signs of liver disease is jaundice<\/a>. This condition occurs as a result of an excessive buildup of bilirubin, a bile pigment, which is yellow in color. When the liver is functioning normally, bilirubin is effectively metabolized by the liver and eliminated from the body in the form of waste.<\/p>\n

However, when the liver is damaged or diseased, it cannot effectively metabolize bilirubin, which means that instead of being eliminated, the bile pigment remains in the body and builds up in the bloodstream. The most obvious sign of jaundice is the yellowing of the skin or eyes, which is the result of the high levels of bile pigment in the blood. Another symptom of jaundice is excessive itching. In extreme cases, it can also impact the function of the brain. If you are jaundice, seek medical help as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

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2. Swelling in the abdomen<\/h3>\n

Cirrhosis<\/a> is a form of liver disease. It causes a condition known as ascites, an excessive buildup of fluid in the abdomen. This fluid is the result of high levels of proteins and albumin in the bloodstream. When the liver is healthy, proteins and albumin are metabolized and eliminated from the body; however, if the liver is damaged by cirrhosis, these toxins cannot be metabolized, and instead, the body retains them, which results in a swollen abdomen.<\/p>\n

Sometimes the swelling can also be seen in the legs, feet, and ankles, as the high fluid levels are pulled down by gravity. Ascites can occur in cases of sudden or acute liver disease, but it more commonly occurs with chronic cases of liver disease. If your abdomen appears swollen, it could be an indication of liver disease, for which prompt medical care is required.<\/p>\n

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3. Tenderness in the upper right abdomen<\/h3>\n

The liver is situated on the upper right side of the abdomen. If this organ is damaged or diseased, a symptom could be a pain in this part of the body. The pain may be experienced in the upper right abdomen and spread down to the lower right part of the abdomen near the rib cage. Pain may or may not be accompanied by swelling in this part of the body. The pain can be persistent, dull, and throbbing, or it can come on suddenly and feel like a sharp, stabbing pain.<\/p>\n

Often, people who experience this type of pain reach for pain medications for comfort; however, this can worsen the damage to the liver. Taking high amounts of pain medications are known to cause significant damage to this organ, as it metabolizes medications. Acetaminophen<\/a> medications are largely responsible for liver damage and disease.<\/p>\n

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\"\"4. Irritated, itchy skin<\/h3>\n

It isn\u2019t uncommon for people to develop irritated and itchy<\/a> skin. Allergic reactions, harsh fabrics, and dry conditions are all things that can affect the skin, irritating it and making it feel itchy. However, irritated and itchy skin can also be a sign of a damaged or diseased liver. Some forms of liver disease can cause jaundice, which, as described, is a condition that can be associated with itchy skin. Other forms of liver disease can cause the skin to develop a reddish color, particularly on the hands and feet.<\/p>\n

You might also notice dark or light patches develop on various parts of your skin. If you are experiencing changes to your skin and you haven\u2019t been exposed to an allergen, your skin isn\u2019t dry, and you aren\u2019t wearing irritating materials, it\u2019s in your best interest to seek medical attention, as the liver disease could be to blame. <\/p>\n

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5. Changes in urine color<\/h3>\n

If the liver and other organs within the body are functioning properly and you are drinking enough fluids, your urine<\/a> should be extremely pale yellow in color or completely clear. However, if you notice that your urine seems to be unusually dark, the liver disease could be to blame. When the liver is damaged, it can\u2019t properly metabolize bilirubin, a pile pigment that is yellow in color.<\/p>\n

As a result, the bilirubin remains in the body and exits through the kidneys, and as it does, urine can be tinged with a dark yellow or almost brown color. There are several other factors that can lead to changes in the color of your urine, such as certain foods, dehydration, deficiencies in certain enzymes, gallstones, and even certain medications. However, if you find that your urine appears darker than normal, it is in your best interest to see a doctor.<\/p>\n

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\"\"6. Changes in your stool<\/h3>\n

Nobody likes to talk about it, but your stool is a good indicator of your overall health. If you are experiencing changes in your bowel movements, it could be a sign that you are suffering from a medical condition. Often, liver disease is associated with changes to bowel<\/a> movements. These changes can include differences in shape, texture, and frequency.<\/p>\n

For instance, if you having less frequent bowel movements and they are hard to pass (constipation), you could be suffering from liver disease. If your bowel movements have increased in frequency and appear pin-like in their shape, this could also be a sign of trouble. Lastly, if your bowel movements are pale in color or have a thick, tar-like consistency, this could also indicate liver problems. While changes to bowel movements can be caused by several things, it\u2019s important to see a doctor for a checkup.<\/p>\n

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7. Significant decrease in appetite<\/h3>\n

When the liver is damaged and is left untreated, there is a very good chance that it will progress and turn into liver disease. As your condition worsens, you will start to experience a number of adverse symptoms; a loss of appetite<\/a> being one of them. In patients who suffer from liver disease, a loss of appetite is usually considered a symptom of an advanced condition.<\/p>\n

The cause for the decreased desire to eat is likely related to a liver that has become so enlarged that it is pushing on the stomach and making it feel full. You might also have less of a desire to eat because your body isn\u2019t able to properly process food, which can end up making you feel sick to your stomach when you do eat. If your appetite has decreased, see your doctor as soon as you possibly can.<\/p>\n

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8. Chronic nausea<\/h3>\n

It is not uncommon for people who have the liver disease to experience issues with the health of their digestive tract. These issues can include acid indigestion and reflux<\/a>. Should the reflux or indigestion become bad enough, it could end up making you feel nauseous. Furthermore, if you have advanced liver disease and the organ has ballooned in size, it may be pressing on your stomach, which could also make you feel sick.<\/p>\n

However, in most cases, the feeling of nausea is the result of your body\u2019s inability to process and eliminate toxins. When high levels of toxins are present in the body, you can end up feeling sick to your stomach. Of course, feeling nauseous could also impact your desire to eat. If you notice that you feel sick to your stomach and are experiencing any other symptoms of liver disease, you should seek prompt medical care.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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9. Weight loss<\/h3>\n

Of course, it stands to reason that when you don\u2019t have much of an appetite and you frequently feel sick to your stomach, you are going to lose weight. In the early stages of liver damage or disease, weight loss<\/a> may be minimal and virtually unnoticeable. However, over time and without treatment, the condition will worsen and the effects of weight loss will be much more obvious. In fact, patients who have the advanced liver disease often lose tremendous amounts of weight in a very short period of time.<\/p>\n

They also suffer from malnutrition and dehydration. If you notice that you are losing a lot of weight unexpectedly, you don\u2019t feel much like eating, your stomach is upset, or you are experiencing any other symptoms on this list that are associated with liver disease, it is important for you to seek medical care as soon as you can.<\/p>\n

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10. Physical exhaustion<\/h3>\n

When liver damage progresses to liver disease and liver disease becomes advanced, the liver can eventually fail. When this happens, patients report experiencing a significant amount of physical exhaustion. The reason chronic fatigue often accompanies advanced liver disease isn\u2019t quite clear; however, it is believed that it could be a result of changes in the chemistry of the brain.<\/p>\n

These changes can impact hormone levels that cause fatigue, such as serotonin<\/a>, corticotrophins, and noradrenaline. Furthermore, heightened toxicity levels in the blood as a result of the liver not being able to effectively rid the body of toxic substances can also lead to fatigue. If you are feeling overly tired no matter how much sleep you have been getting and you are also experiencing other symptoms that have been described on this list, you should seek medical care as soon as possible, as you could have liver disease.<\/p>\n\r\n

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