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Symptoms of a Diseased Liver

Our livers largely function as a filtration system within our bodies, removing toxins, germs and waste while producing proteins, vitamins and minerals. Just as the liver rejuvenates our entire bodies, it is also equipped with the ability to repair its own damaged cells. However, a variety of diseases such as hepatitis, alcoholism, cystic fibrosis and congestive heart failure, can effectively damage the liver beyond repair. If this damage continues over a long span of time, it can eventually develop into chronic liver disease, or cirrhosis, a potentially life-threatening condition that is not always easy to detect.

  1. Initial Symptoms

    • The first stages of liver disease, also know as "the silent disease," are marked by few and seemingly harmless symptoms. Many individuals will experience fatigue, weakness, exhaustion and loss of appetite and occasionally abdominal pain, fever, nosebleeds or nausea. However, these symptoms can often go unnoticed and even when acknowledged, they are characteristic of so many other (less severe) ailments. As these symptoms come and go, individuals remain unaware of the damage to the liver.

    Tests

    • Internally, the initial stages of liver damage involve a variety changes and symptoms, but require medical assistance to detect. Testing the composition of the blood is one of the earliest and easiest ways to determine both the state of the liver as well as the potential cause of the damage. Increased iron or copper content in the blood are both symptoms and contributors to liver disease. Similarly, tests for decreased protein and blood clotting can also determine the presence and severity of liver disease.

    Observable Symptoms

    • As the disease progresses, an affected individual will begin to experience more symptoms. The liver becomes inflamed and scarred as it tries to repair its damaged cells and in turn affects the state of the entire body, causing such symptoms as hemorrhoids, varicose veins and swelling in the legs, low blood pressure, fever, bruising, peculiar breath odor, itching and increased susceptibility to bacterial infections.

    Jaundice

    • Another issue that begins in the blood and one of the most distinctive symptoms of liver disease is jaundice. With liver disease comes an increased production of bilirubin which breaks down the substance in blood that carries oxygen. As a result, the skin and eyes turn yellow, making jaundice a symptom of liver disease that is hard to miss.

    Mental Symptoms

    • In some of the later stages, individuals will begin to experience several mental symptoms. Because the liver is no longer capable of performing its filtration function, an increasing number of toxins make their way to the brain. As they build up, an individual will begin to notice a variety of impairments and inexplicable confusion. It is not uncommon for individuals at this stage of liver disease to undergo personality changes, losing interest in interpersonal relationships, feeling depressed, drowsy and irritable.

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