Liver disease occurs when the liver or liver is disturbed and does not function properly. This disease is characterized by a variety of symptoms, but liver symptoms usually only appear after the liver has been damaged or has decreased drastically in function.
Recognizing liver symptoms is important so that liver disease can be detected as early as possible and does not progress to a severe stage. The reason is, liver disease that is too late to be recognized and treated can cause liver failure or permanent liver damage, so the only way to overcome it is a liver transplant.
Recognize the following Liver Symptoms
When the function of the liver or liver is disturbed, there are various complaints that may be felt. Complaints that arise can be different for each sufferer and depend on the severity of the liver disease suffered.
Some people may not feel any symptoms at the onset of the disease. Symptoms that occur can also be so mild that they are not mistaken for liver symptoms. The following are liver symptoms that you should be aware of and consult a doctor:
1. Yellowing of the skin and eyes
One of the most common liver symptoms is yellowing of the skin and eyes. This condition, known as jaundice, occurs when the liver is compromised, so it can't process bilirubin properly. This condition causes bilirubin to build up in the blood, causing the skin and eyes to turn yellow.
2. Stomach swells
The next symptom of the liver is a swollen stomach due to fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity. A condition called ascites is usually experienced by people with cirrhosis.
Initially, ascites can only be an increase in waist circumference and weight. However, if the disease gets worse, this liver symptom can cause the sufferer's stomach to swell so much that he becomes short of breath.
3. Itchy skin
Liver disease can be characterized by the appearance of itchy skin, either on one part of the body or the whole body. This condition can be triggered by various things. One of them is due to the buildup of bile salts under the skin. The itching can be so severe that you can't sleep or stop yourself from scratching.
4. Easy to bruise and bleed
The next symptom of the liver is easy bruising. One of the functions of the liver is to produce proteins needed for the blood clotting process. When liver function is impaired, the production of this protein is reduced, so bruising is easy even if the impact is only a minor impact.
In addition to this, other liver symptoms that may appear include fatigue, swelling of the feet and ankles, dark urine color, black or even pale stools, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
See a doctor immediately if you experience liver symptoms, especially if you are at high risk for liver disease, for example, have a history of hepatitis B, are addicted to alcohol, have type 2 diabetes, or are obese.
