Health & Wellness

11 Early Liver Damage Symptoms that everybody Ignores

As liver disease becomes more common, it’s important to know the early liver damage symptoms. By recognizing the warning signs, you can start treatment sooner and improve your chances of a successful recovery.

If you’re someone who regularly drinks alcohol or takes other medications, it’s important to be aware of the potential for liver damage. Liver damage symptoms can show up a few weeks after you start drinking heavily or taking medications, including fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.

This article will discuss the most common earliest sign of liver damage.

In This Article

Early Liver Damage Symptoms

Early liver damage symptoms can vary and can be difficult to identify. However, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you must see a doctor as soon as possible.

There are a variety of early liver damage symptoms that you should be aware of so that you can get the help you need as soon as possible. Here are 11 of the most common early liver damage symptoms:

1. Fatigue and weakness

The liver is a vital organ in the body, filtering our blood and removing toxins. However, if there is too much stress or pressure on the liver, it can’t do its job properly. This can lead to many symptoms, including fatigue and weakness.

2. Loss of Appetite

The first sign that your liver is damaged is when you start to lose your appetite. This may be gradual at first, but over time it will become more and more difficult to eat anything. You may also experience nausea and abdominal pain. These symptoms can lead to serious health complications like jaundice if left unchecked.

3. Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are common early symptoms of liver damage. They’re typically caused by the liver trying to rid itself of toxins accumulated over time.

4. Weight loss

One of the earliest signs of liver damage is weight loss. This is because your body’s ability to extract nutrients from food decreases, which in turn causes you to lose weight. As your body becomes increasingly depleted, it struggles to digest food and absorb nutrients. This can lead to anemia and other deficiencies, which in turn cause further weight loss.

5. Abdominal pain and swelling

You likely have early liver damage if you’re experiencing abdominal pain and swelling. This indicates that your liver is not functioning properly and may even be damaged.

6. Skin and Eyes that appear yellowish

Some people may experience yellow skin and eyes (jaundice) due to early liver damage. The symptoms can appear within a few days after the damage is done and may worsen over time. Jaundice causes the skin and eyes to become yellowish, making it difficult to see. If untreated, jaundice can lead to long-term health problems like cirrhosis.

7. Itchy skin

If you’re experiencing itchy skin, likely, your liver is not functioning properly. Almost half of all cases of liver cirrhosis are caused by inflammation in the liver, which can often be the first sign that something is wrong.

8. Clay-colored Stools

The color of your stool may be the only symptom you experience at first, but it’s something to be aware of. If you notice that your stools are clay-colored, this could be an early sign of liver damage.

9. Swelling of feet

If you experience swelling in your feet, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This can be a sign of early liver damage, leading to serious health complications if left untreated.

10. Dark urine color

Some early signs of liver damage include a change in the color of your urine. Dark urine is a sign that your liver cannot process toxins as efficiently as it used to, which can lead to serious health problems.

 11. Sleep disturbance

If you experience sleep disturbances, such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, it’s important to see a doctor. This is because sleep disturbances can be early liver damage symptoms.

In closing

If you have noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is time to visit a doctor. The earlier you notice issues like these in your body, the better chance you will have to recover and beat them. Therefore, ensure you are aware of early signs of liver damage and take the necessary steps accordingly.

References

  1. Gastrointestinal dysfunction in liver cirrhosis
  2. (PDF) LIVER DISEASES-AN OVERVIEW
  3. A Brief Review on Liver Cirrhosis

Dr Maria

MD. Board Certified physician. Fellowship In Family Medicine UK. 8 years of medical experience in Lifestyle-related health disorders. Graduated from AIIMS – All India Institute Of Medical Science, INDIA

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