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When it comes to liver disease, it is worrying that many patients do not feel pain or discomfort in the early stages of the illness. However, if the disease is not treated, there is only a small chance that it can be completely cured without consequences. A transplant is usually necessary, along with long months of treatment and a change of job. All of this, however, can be prevented through early diagnosis.
Liver disease is associated with symptoms that draw attention and are difficult to overlook, but also those that are very subtle and can completely escape us. We should pay even more attention to the signals of our body. What should alert you?
Yellowing of the skin or eyes
Although this phenomenon is fairly common in newborns, the situation is completely different in adults. Yellowing of the eyes and skin can also be caused by allergic reactions to drugs, but doctors can also recognize from it the presence of viruses that damage the liver and possible diseases such as hepatitis B and C.
Dark-colored urine
If you are not constantly dehydrated, or taking any special medications, your urine should be light and slightly yellowish. If it has a different color, something is wrong. If the situation does not improve with adequate water intake, liver disease should be considered. Urine that is darker than normal may indicate that the liver is unable to break down bilirubin, which is often observed in patients with liver failure. If this symptom is accompanied by bloody or very dark black stools, it is definitely time to see a specialist.
Itchy skin
One of the characteristic symptoms of liver damage is intensely itchy or very dry skin. This is because the liver is unable to break down bile. Itching is one of the most insidious symptoms of liver disease, but it is also one of the most obvious.
Bruising
Of course, each of us occasionally bumps into something and our skin gets bruised. But if you find that bruises appear without an obvious cause, it could mean that your liver is not functioning well. Frequent bruising and, in more serious cases, uncontrolled bleeding can also occur in patients with liver disease, because this organ is unable to produce the substances needed for blood clotting.
Constant fatigue
Fatigue is of course a side effect of almost every illness, but when it comes to the liver, fatigue is usually very pronounced. Doctors believe this is because many patients with liver disease suffer from malnutrition and even hormonal disorders. These two factors can contribute to the weakening of the body and lead to chronic fatigue.
Fluctuating body weight
If you are gaining or losing weight without making significant lifestyle changes, you may have a problem with your liver. In both cases, reduced liver function is to blame for your body’s inability to process incoming nutrients, and metabolism may be disrupted.
Fever
Although there can be many symptoms of liver disease, one of the most common signs that doctors encounter in many of their patients is a high fever. Because the liver is not functioning properly, some patients have high levels of toxins in their blood that the liver cannot clear. The body’s reaction is then an increase in temperature.
