Signs of liver damage: Your liver makes an important contribution to your overall health. The liver is responsible for metabolic functions such as converting nutrients from your diet so your body can use them and making sure toxins are removed before they can cause damage. However, when your liver is in trouble and not working properly, it will try to alert you in various ways.
Here, we tell you more about these red flags that indicate your life is in danger. It is imperative to seek timely treatment without ignoring any symptoms. Failure to do so may worsen your health. So, visit your doctor immediately if you have any of these. Dr. Meghraj Ingle, Gastroenterologist, Zen Multispeciality Hospital, Chembur spoke to India.com and mentioned some of the warning signs and symptoms of liver death. Read ahead!
7 warning signs of liver damage:
- Bleeding and bruising: If you have liver damage, you will bleed or bruise easily after injuries. This occurs when certain proteins needed for blood clotting are not present, indicating some problem with the liver. Thus, a person’s blood goes under the skin, which leads to bruising.
- Swelling in legs: If a person has chronic liver disease, fluid will accumulate in the legs. Therefore, the legs will swell. Once you notice this symptom, visit a doctor immediately to find out the exact root cause of the swelling.
- Jaundice and itchy skin: It is one of the leading signs of liver disease. Jaundice means yellowing of the eyes and urine and is an important symptom that is usually first recognized by the relatives of the patient. It is due to the destruction of liver cells that the amount of bilirubin in the blood increases and it is elevated as seen in certain blood tests. It can be accompanied by itching and fatigue all over the body. Elevated bilirubin is a concern because the level can help doctors predict a patient with acute and chronic liver diseases, and elevated values indicate poor liver function.
- Abdominal swelling: Did you know, patients with chronic liver disease may experience fluid accumulation in the abdomen that causes abdominal cramps. Fluid leaks from the surface of the liver and intestines leading to ascites. One of the symptoms of ascites due to liver cirrhosis or alcoholic hepatitis is a swollen abdomen.
- Episodes of vomiting blood: If cirrhosis is present, a person may vomit blood or have bloody stools. So, don’t take it lightly.
- Red, itchy palms (palmar erythema): May also indicate liver damage. This sign is especially seen in alcoholic patients due to abnormal hormone levels in the blood
- Insufficient sleep: People with liver cirrhosis often have sleepiness and insomnia. are you aware Accumulated toxins will disrupt the blood sleep cycle and some patients may even go into a coma.
