15 Symptoms of Liver Problems You Shouldn't Ignore

ByAgkidzone Staff

Updated: Oct 4, 2024

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The liver is one hardworking organ, responsible for over 500 vital functions like regulating blood chemicals, producing bile, and metabolizing substances. When it gets damaged—be it from infections, alcohol abuse, medications, obesity, or cancer—it's a serious health concern. Understanding the symptoms and stages of liver damage is crucial for early detection and effective treatment. After all, early and effective treatment can help prevent the progression of liver disease and potentially avoid a life-threatening outcome.

Swollen Abdomen

One of the initial signs of liver damage is a swollen abdomen, known as ascites. This occurs when fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity, often due to portal hypertension—high blood pressure in the veins that supply the liver. Small amounts of fluid might go unnoticed, but moderate accumulation can lead to weight gain and an increased waistline. In more severe cases, significant swelling and discomfort occur. The skin over the abdomen may appear tight, and the navel can become flat or protrude. This swelling might press against the stomach, causing a loss of appetite, and can even affect the lungs, making it hard to breathe. Furthermore, it can impact veins in the abdomen, leading to swollen feet, ankles, and legs.

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Tenderness in the Abdomen

Another symptom to watch out for is tenderness or pain in the abdomen. Pain is common among individuals with liver disease, affecting up to 82% of those with cirrhosis. Generally speaking, the more advanced the liver disease, the more prevalent the pain becomes. This discomfort can be dull, throbbing, tingling, or burning. While it usually centers in the abdomen, liver disease can also cause referred pain in the neck, shoulders, and joints. So, if you're feeling unexplained abdominal tenderness, it's worth paying attention.

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Jaundice

Jaundice is a classic sign of liver trouble. One of the liver's roles is to break down bilirubin, a yellowish pigment formed during the breakdown of red blood cells, and remove it from the blood. When the liver is damaged, it can't process bilirubin efficiently, causing the pigment to build up in the bloodstream. This results in a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Jaundice is a clear indicator that the liver isn't functioning properly and requires medical attention.

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Itchy Skin

Itchy skin, or pruritus, is another symptom associated with liver problems, particularly cholestatic liver diseases that affect bile ducts. Bile aids in digestion and drains from the liver into the bile ducts and intestines. When bile flow is disrupted, bile salts can accumulate under the skin, causing itching. Interestingly, the severity of the itch doesn't necessarily correlate with the severity of the liver disease. So, persistent itchy skin might be more than just a minor annoyance.

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Changes in the Urine

If you notice changes in your urine color, it could be linked to liver issues. Normally, the liver removes most of the bilirubin from the body, but when it's compromised, the kidneys step in to eliminate more of it. This can lead to dark yellow or brown urine. So, next time you think your urine looks darker than usual, it might be your body's way of signaling a liver problem.

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Changes in the Stool

Liver damage can also cause noticeable changes in stool. Light or clay-colored stools often occur alongside jaundice because bilirubin isn't being processed properly and isn't reaching the intestines to give stool its typical brown color. Additionally, liver disease can lead to constipation or diarrhea. If bleeding occurs in the gastrointestinal tract due to clotting issues, stool may appear black and tarry or contain red blood, indicating bleeding in different parts of the GI tract.

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Loss of Appetite

A decreased appetite is common in liver disease for several reasons. Inflammation, abdominal pain, bloating, and the pressure from a swollen abdomen can all make eating uncomfortable. Additionally, liver damage can disrupt glucose and insulin metabolism, leading to changes in taste or nausea after eating. If you're consistently not feeling hungry, it might be more than just a passing phase.

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Nausea

Nausea and vomiting are early, non-specific symptoms that can occur when toxins start building up in the body due to liver dysfunction. As the liver's ability to eliminate toxins decreases, these symptoms are likely to intensify. Feeling queasy isn't fun, but it's your body's way of saying something might be wrong under the hood.

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Water Retention

Water retention is another symptom associated with liver problems. The swollen abdomen from ascites increases pressure in the abdominal cavity, affecting venous blood flow from the lower extremities. This can lead to edema—swelling in the feet, ankles, and legs. Additionally, a damaged liver may not produce enough albumin, a protein that prevents fluid from leaking into tissues, contributing to further swelling.

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Weight Loss or Gain

Liver damage can cause both weight loss and weight gain. Some individuals lose weight due to a loss of appetite from pain, abdominal pressure, bloating, or nausea. On the flip side, others appear to gain weight because they're retaining excess fluid due to ascites or edema. It's possible for someone to lose fat and muscle mass while simultaneously gaining fluid weight, leading to significant changes in body composition even if the scale doesn't show drastic weight changes.

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Chronic Fatigue

Feeling tired all the time? Chronic fatigue is a common complaint among those with liver disease. When toxins accumulate in the bloodstream, it can affect brain function, making you feel persistently exhausted regardless of how much rest you get. Factors like disturbed sleep patterns, reduced physical activity, and decreased exercise tolerance can also contribute to this overwhelming sense of fatigue.

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Bruising Easily

If you find yourself bruising more easily than before, it could be a sign of liver dysfunction. The liver plays a key role in producing proteins necessary for blood clotting. Conditions like thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and hypoprothrombinemia (deficiency of prothrombin) can occur when the liver isn't functioning properly. This makes it easier to bruise or bleed, sometimes from minor bumps you might not even remember.

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Mental Fog

Experiencing mental fog or confusion can be alarming. This can be caused by hepatic encephalopathy, a brain disorder resulting from toxins building up in the bloodstream due to liver dysfunction. Symptoms range from personality changes and disorientation to reduced consciousness in advanced stages. Initially, you might notice disrupted sleep patterns, but as the condition progresses, confusion and lethargy can increase, potentially leading to a coma.

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Spider-Like Blood Vessels

Spider angiomas are small, spider-like blood vessels that can appear on the skin when the liver is not functioning properly. They have a red dot in the center with tiny vessels radiating outward. Pressing on them makes them disappear temporarily, but they return once pressure is released. These are more than just a cosmetic concern; about one-third of people with cirrhosis develop spider angiomas, indicating extensive liver fibrosis.

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Risk Factors and Prevention

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