The liver is a vital organ located in the upper right part of the abdomen, just below the ribs. It performs a number of important functions, such as: waste removal, digestion support, blood filtering and detoxification. Interestingly, the liver is the only internal organ capable of regeneration, which means it can restore damaged tissue. However, if we neglect the health of this organ, its functions may deteriorate. Therefore, experts have drawn attention to the symptoms that may indicate that your liver is failing.
- Liver failure can seriously threaten human health.
- Untreated liver diseases can lead to fibrosis and later to life-threatening cirrhosis.
- Chronic liver disease develops slowly, often without obvious symptoms.
- Early diagnosis and treatment can slow the progression of liver disease.
Liver diseases can have various causes, including genetics, autoimmune disorders, metabolic problems, viruses or obesity. Dr. Shreya Sengupta emphasized that if the condition is not addressed, it can become chronic, leading to fibrosis – the progressive hardening of the liver due to the accumulation of scar tissue as the organ tries to regenerate itself. Chronic liver disease can progress to severe and permanent scarring known as cirrhosis.
Liver disease develops slowly. (illustrative photo)
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Experts emphasize that unlike acute failure, which can occur suddenly even in people with no previous problems, chronic liver disease often develops slowly. The symptoms of this condition may not always be obvious, especially in the early stages. Therefore, doctors recommend regular examinations to detect potential problems early. “Abnormal liver enzyme levels are often the first signal to watch out for,” says Dr. Sengupta.
Liver diseases are treatable and even in chronic or advanced stages it is possible to prevent further damage, so diagnosis is key. Experts have revealed 11 symptoms that you should immediately discuss with a doctor. But they warned that two of them get worse or appear especially at night.
Spider angiomas (nevi)
These skin lesions appear as small red or purple dots with dilated blood vessels that resemble spider legs. They most often appear on the chest, abdomen, back, face or hands.
Red palms (palmar erythema)
It is a symmetrical redness on the palms that usually occurs on both hands. It often occurs together with spider angiomas.
It can occur due to the accumulation of bile acids in the blood. This symptom can worsen during the night, leading to a disturbance in the quality of sleep.
Liver disease can also cause itching. (illustrative photo)
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It is associated with a loss of muscle mass or strength that may occur with or without loss of body fat.
If it appears especially in the upper right part, it can be a symptom of liver disease. Some people may experience a persistent dull ache or a feeling of intense pressure.
This symptom leads not only to falling asleep worse, but also to longer wakefulness. People with chronic liver disease may also wake up frequently at night or have disrupted circadian rhythms.
Bilirubin is a yellowish by-product of the breakdown of red blood cells that passes through the liver and is excreted in the bile. A damaged liver cannot process this pigment properly. If it reaches the kidneys, it can cause darkening of the urine.
This symptom it is often accompanied by loss of appetite and diarrhea or other gastrointestinal disturbances.
It can be mild or persistent. In addition to exhaustion, people with liver disease may feel weaker than usual.
Chronic liver disease is also associated with extreme fatigue. (illustrative photo)
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It is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Unlike normal bloating, it can cause painful swelling that requires drainage.
It occurs when bilirubin builds up in the blood. It usually occurs with more advanced inflammation and scarring or cirrhosis of the liver.
Although these symptoms may not necessarily indicate liver disease, it is important to seek medical attention. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent further scarring or slow the progression of the disease. “The right intervention can delay the progression of liver disease by decades,” concluded Dr. Sengupta.
This article comes from the Ringier publishing partner website. The content and data contained in it were taken without editorial intervention.
