Liver damage symptoms

Liver disease is a broad term that can describe any issue that damages the liver and affects its function. Possible causes include infections, genetic conditions, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. As liver disease progresses, the liver’s ability to function may diminish to the extent that it will no longer be able to keep the person alive. A person with liver disease symptoms should talk with a doctor to determine the best treatment. Early treatment can often stop or slow the progression of liver disease and improve a person’s quality of life. This article discusses the symptoms of liver disease, as well as its diagnosis and the treatment options. Share on Pinterest Image credit: Antonio_Diaz/Getty Images Liver disease describes several different medical conditions that damage the liver and lead to reduced functioning. There are many different types of liver disease, which can occur as a result of viruses, genetic conditions, and cancer, among other causes. Treatments can cure some diseases that affect the liver and prevent them from potentially leading to life threatening liver failure. Liver disease can be acute or chronic. Acute liver disease occurs when something suddenly damages the liver. Chronic liver disease occurs when a condition continues to affect the liver for According to the • • • yellowing of the skin and eyes, known as • dark urine • pale stool • nausea and vomiting • pain under the ribs on the right side of the body In some cases, depending on the cause o...

What are some common liver disease symptoms? When diagnosing liver disease, the doctor looks at the patient's symptoms and conducts a physical examination. In addition, the doctor may request a Some common liver disease symptoms include the following, each of which are described briefly below: • Jaundice. A yellowing of the skin and eyes. • Cholestasis • Liver enlargement • Portal hypertension • Esophageal varices • Ascites. A fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity. • Liver encephalopathy • Liver failure What is jaundice? Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to abnormally high levels of bilirubin (bile pigment) in the bloodstream. Urine is usually dark because of the bilirubin excreted through the kidneys. High levels of bilirubin may be attributed to inflammation, or other abnormalities of the liver cells, or blockage of the bile ducts. Sometimes, jaundice is caused by the breakdown of a large number of red blood cells, which can occur in newborns. Jaundice is usually the first sign, and sometimes the only sign, of liver disease. What is cholestasis? Cholestasis means any condition in which bile flow is reduced or stopped. "Chole" refers to bile and "stasis" means "not moving." Bile flow may be blocked inside the liver, outside the liver, or in both places. Symptoms may include: • Jaundice • Dark urine • Pale stool • Easy bleeding • Itching • Ascites • Chills • Pain from the biliary tract or pancreas • Enlarged gallbladder Some causes o...

A staggering number of people have some form of liver damage – many of whom have no idea they are affected! Unfortunately, liver disease that is not diagnosed and addressed can have serious – or even fatal consequences. There are rarely early symptoms of liver disease. It doesn’t exhibit obvious symptoms until the illness has progressed to a serious stage. Thus, being alerted to these 16 Liver Cell Damage Experts believe that an estimated 10 to 30 percent of Americans have one of over 100 types of liver disease. A majority of these individuals have yet to realize their liver is in danger, because they may not be knowledgeable about the signs of liver problems. After incurring damage to its cells, the liver has a remarkable ability to regenerate new cells. This recovery only happens when normal cell injuries occur. Pathology in the liver typically causes the rate of liver cell damage to outpace the rate of liver cell regeneration. Over time, unrepaired liver cell damage can lead to irreversible scarring (cirrhosis of the liver), which primes the organ for liver cancer or liver failure. On the other hand, increasing liver disease awareness – including cognizance of a vague collection of signs and symptoms of a bad liver – will improve liver disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. What Causes Liver Disease? Liver disease can be genetic or be caused by a variety of other factors that damages the liver, such as: • A virus like Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C • Alcohol use • • ...

Liver disease can be serious, so recognizing symptoms early is important. Most liver diseases are easier to manage when detected early. Your liver is one of the hardest-working organs in your body. It helps you digest food, convert it to energy, and store that energy for future use. It also plays an important role in filtering toxic substances out of your blood. Keep in mind that liver disease is an umbrella term for a number of conditions that affect your liver. It’s not a condition itself. Read on to learn about symptoms of common liver diseases and how to recognize them. Symptoms of liver disease may vary depending on the underlying cause. But there are a few common signs that often point to some kind of liver issue. These include: • yellow skin and eyes ( • dark urine • pale, bloody, or black (tarlike) stool • swollen ankles, legs, or abdomen • nausea • vomiting • decrease in appetite • persistent fatigue • skin that feels itchy • bruising more easily than usual Hepatitis spreads through contact with contaminated food, water, or bodily fluids, such as blood and semen. All hepatitis infections affect your liver. It makes it swell and keeps it from working properly. These infections might be acute (lasting six months or less) or chronic (lasting more than six months). The hepatitis virus can live in the body for years without causing symptoms. At first, you may notice flu-like symptoms. Over time, you may also notice: • fatigue, decreased energy, or general weakness • ac...

[Music playing] Mayo Clinic explains cirrhosis Sumera I. Ilyas, M.B.B.S., Transplant Hepatologist, Mayo Clinic I'm Dr. Sumera Ilyas, a transplant hepatologist at Mayo Clinic. In this video, we'll cover the basics of cirrhosis. What is it? Who gets it? The symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Whether you're looking for answers for yourself or someone you love, we're here to give you the best information available. What is it? Put simply, cirrhosis is scarring of the liver. Any time an organ is injured, it tries to repair itself. And when this happens, scar tissue forms. As more scar tissue forms in the liver, it becomes harder for it to function. Cirrhosis is usually a result of liver damage from conditions such as hepatitis B or C, or chronic alcohol use. The damage done by cirrhosis typically cannot be undone. But if caught early enough and depending on the cause, there is a chance of slowing it with treatment. And even in the most severe cases, liver transplants and new treatments provide those suffering from cirrhosis with hope. Who gets it? Any kind of disease or condition that harms the liver can lead to cirrhosis over time. About 2% of American adults have liver disease, and therefore are at risk of developing cirrhosis. However, those who drink too much alcohol, those who are overweight and those with viral hepatitis are at a greater risk. Not everyone with these risk factors develop cirrhosis. These are the leading causes of liver disease. A wide range of other condi...

Liver damage typically has four stages, beginning with inflammation and progressing all the way to cirrosis and end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Liver disease refers to any condition that inflames or damages your liver. Damage to your liver can accumulate through several stages of liver disease. Each stage has a cumulative effect on your liver’s ability to function properly. The four stages of liver damage or disease are: • inflammation • fibrosis • cirrhosis • end-stage liver disease (ESLD) Learn more about liver damage and disease. Damage from liver disease can accrue throughout several stages. With each stage, your liver’s ability to function is increasingly affected. Inflammation In this early stage, your liver becomes Fibrosis The scar tissue that’s generated in this stage takes the place of healthy liver tissue, but it can’t perform the same functions. This can start to affect your liver’s ability to function optimally. Liver fibrosis can be hard to detect because symptoms aren’t often present. Cirrhosis In While symptoms may not have been present in earlier stages, you may begin to experience symptoms of liver disease. End-stage liver disease (ESLD) ESLD is an umbrella term that can be used to describe conditions such as: • • • chronic liver failure At this stage, liver function has deteriorated dramatically. ESLD is associated with complications such as Liver failure can occur due to liver damage caused by liver disease. However, it’s not inevitable that liver damag...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Few people know when their liver is failing, says gastroenterologist Carlos Romero-Marrero, MD. And that can put you more at risk for serious illness. “People with Here, Dr. Romero-Marrero explains four of the most common signs of liver failure and possible treatments. See your doctor if you notice any of these issues, he advises. 1. Fluid retention This is the most common sign of liver disease, appearing in 50 percent of people who have Accumulating fluid may cause This happens when high blood pressure develops in your liver veins or when your liver is unable to make albumin, a protein that prevents leaks from your bloodstream into tissue. Treatment options: A Severe cases often call for paracentesis, using a needle to drain abdominal fluid, Dr. Romero-Marrero says. 2. This condition causes darker urine and a yellowish tint in skin or the whites of your eyes. It appears when Treatment options: Jaundice is a severe sign of liver failure, Dr. Romero-Marrero says. If you have jaundice, your doctor may evaluate you for a 3. Bleeding Your liver typically cycles about 25% of your blood from the portal vein. But cirrhosis creates an opportunity for bleeding. You may vomit blood or notice blood in stool or “Usually, the flow through the liver is like driving through a high-speed highway — it’s quite rapid. But, w...

Liver damage, or cirrhosis, may cause no symptoms in its early stages. Early signs may be nonspecific, such as nausea or fatigue. Later stages can lead to worsening symptoms such as jaundice, itchy skin, and swelling in the lower limbs. According to 2018 statistics, When this occurs, scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, leading to symptoms and possibly liver failure. A person may not have any initial symptoms. As the damage progresses, a person may start to notice nonspecific symptoms that can progressively worsen. This article reviews early and late-stage symptoms of liver damage, its causes, treatment, and prevention. Share on Pinterest Jena Ardell/Getty Images At first, these conditions may not cause any symptoms. As the damage worsens, a person may begin to notice new, developing symptoms. Early signs of liver damage and scarring • • • • discomfort or mild • • A person may not experience all of these symptoms. They are also nonspecific symptoms, meaning they could occur due to several potential causes other than liver damage. Liver damage may occur due to a variety of different causes. They • • • • diseases that block or • long term use of certain medications • • genetic liver diseases, such as • These conditions can cause liver damage and scar tissue, known as cirrhosis. When a person has cirrhosis, their liver does not heal, and scar tissue begins to replace healthy tissue. This • • • • Treatment for cirrhosis typically focuses on correcting the underlying cond...