By Marcos Otero, Gulf Coast Immediate Care Center
Previously we discussed how important the liver is (see article April 2018). Today we will discuss what can damage the liver and symptoms.
Common causes that damage the liver are:
- Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- A buildup of fat within the liver, which is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Abnormalities within the immune system.
- Certain viruses and parasites.
- Liver cancer.
- Genetic conditions that affect liver function.
Here are some of the more common symptoms that can occur.
- Abdominal Tenderness – Abdominal pain in the upper right corner of the abdomen, or to the lower right portion of the rib cage, can be a sign of liver damage.
- Nausea – Damage to the liver damages it capability to eliminate toxins that can cause persistent feelings of nausea.
- Loss of Appetite.
- Stool changes including unusually pale color, a thick, tar-like consistency, or the presence of blood in your bowel movements.
- Exhaustion – always tired – Chronic fatigue, muscle and mental weakness, memory loss, and even confusion, and coma are common when a damaged liver progresses to liver failure. Exhaustion and fatigue are the single most common symptom of liver damage.
- Jaundice – Your eyes become yellow. Discolored skin and eyes that take on a yellowish hue is symptomatic of liver damage. Jaundice also causes dark-colored urine and light-colored stools (look out for anything grey, yellow, or overly pale in color), and the high bilirubin levels it causes can also trigger difficult-to-relieve full-body itching. In extremely severe cases, jaundice can also cause a loss of brain function, forgetful, or maybe confused. In older patients, this is often misdiagnosed as a dementia-related disorder.
- Swollen Abdomen – Cirrhosis, the serious progression of liver disease, causes fluid build-up in the abdomen (ascites), as levels of albumin, proteins and fluid are retained. This may make the patient appear pregnant and to have rapid weight gain. While ascites can be caused by numerous medical conditions, cirrhosis of the liver is the single most common. Sometimes, swelling can also take place in the ankles, as accumulated fluid is drawn down into the lower legs.
Many of the above symptoms can occur with other illness’ as well. If you feel you have any of these see your primary care provider.
