If you suspect that your liver isn’t functioning properly, you’re probably right. Liver damage has many symptoms, ranging from chronic pain to bad breath and yellowish eyes. However, not all signs of liver failure are so easy to spot.
To be sure that your liver isn’t failing, review the list below to get ten signs of liver damage and failure. Then consider scheduling an appointment with your doctor if you notice any of these in yourself or someone you love.
Stomach pain, also known as abdominal pain, occurs when your digestive tract hurts. Your liver produces bile, which your body uses to break down food during digestion. Bile flows from your liver into your gallbladder, then into your intestines to help digest fat and absorb nutrients. Sometimes bile becomes backed up in your gallbladder or intestines, causing swelling, irritation, or stomach pain.
Fatigue is a symptom of many illnesses, but can also indicate liver damage. If you feel extremely fatigued, see your doctor immediately as a blood test will determine if your liver is functioning properly.
One of your liver’s key functions is to convert fats, sugars, and proteins into usable energy. The more you consume a lot of fat and sugar over a short period of time your liver will become overwhelmed. Excess fructose, which may come from too much soda or fruit juice, causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hepatitis C infection can cause significant scarring in those with cirrhosis. More so, excess alcohol consumption over a long period of time can lead to liver damage.
Jaundice occurs when your liver isn’t excreting enough bilirubin, a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown. Because red blood cells are broken down in your spleen, if you have a bleeding disorder or leukemia, jaundice may be more likely. Jaundice can also indicate liver damage. Because jaundice is often caused by other conditions like hepatitis, it’s important to visit your doctor for further testing if you experience these symptoms.
If you feel mentally cloudy, confused, or lethargic, liver damage could be to blame. These are symptoms of something called hepatic encephalopathy, basically a fancy way of saying your brain is being negatively affected by toxins in your body. If it gets severe enough, it can lead to coma.
This may be caused by a gallstone obstructing your bile duct. The sudden pain can radiate to your back, or you might become nauseated and start vomiting. A sudden increase in weight could be due to fluid retention from a liver problem, which would also make you feel nauseated. Weakened muscles could result in pale-colored stools because your intestines are not working well enough to break down bile salts during digestion. If there is no improvement within 10 days, consult a doctor immediately.
One of the most common indicators that something is wrong with your liver is abdominal swelling or bloating. The organ is responsible for storing excess fluids in your body, so if it's damaged, it can't hold onto all of those fluids as well. This causes your abdomen to swell up like a balloon.
One of our liver’s functions is to get rid of body toxins. When it can’t do that, those toxins wind up stored in your body’s tissues, particularly in your skin, eyes, and urine. If you notice any yellowing or itching, that could be a sign that something toxic is making its way through your system. Get checked out ASAP if you see these signs.
Not all kinds of liver damage cause abdominal swelling. If your liver isn’t processing fluids properly, they may seep into your abdomen, causing swelling in that area. This is more common in chronic diseases such as hepatitis C, but can also happen if you’re severely dehydrated due to alcohol consumption or other underlying issues. Keep an eye on your blood pressure for any changes; elevated readings are indicative of problems with fluid regulation in both cases.
This could be diarrhea or constipation and dark-colored stools. If you experience any change in your bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation, there could be a problem with your liver. A common cause of these issues is a blockage in your bile ducts, which runs from your liver to your intestines. Your liver produces bile that’s then stored in these ducts and released when food enters your intestines. It's important to note that any sort of the change in bowel movements can indicate a more serious issue.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.