Jaundice

People with jaundice will notice their skin turn a light yellow or orange. The white area of the eye may also turn yellowish. Jaundice occurs when the liver is unable to process bile properly. In some cases, jaundice is indicative of an infected gall bladder or hepatitis.

Loss of Appetite

Any type of liver disease will affect a person’s appetite. The situation is aggravated by diarrhea, anemia or inability to digest food. To determine if the vomiting is a symptom of liver damage, check if there is blood when the person vomits.

Stool Discoloration

As bile production is affected, the stool will become lighter in color. The stool will become affected as the bile is blocked. Apart from stool discoloration, the bowel movement will be irregular. Keep in mind that gray colored stool is also regarded as light color.

Distention, Bloating and Frequent Urination

In some cases, the lower rib section to the right will be distended. If the condition is severe, breathing may be affected as well. Another one of the well known symptoms of liver damage is frequent urination (called polyuria).

It should be borne in mind that excessive urination is also a symptom of other diseases. This should be considered as an indicator of liver damage only if it is accompanied by any of the symptoms listed here.

Other Signs of Liver Disease

These include physical weakness and fatigue, nausea and the feeling of having very little energy. There is also weight loss brought about by the lack of appetite. The nails also become more curved; the color also changes from pink to white. Other signs are indigestion and incorrect metabolism of fats and carbohydrates.

Other symptoms of liver damage include an enlarged liver (called hepatomegaly). Another sign is polydipsia or intense thirst. Spider nevus, or spot encompassed by blood vessels, is another symptom. It has also been observed in 50% of males with liver disease that the breasts become enlarged. In other cases, the testes become smaller.

Causes of Liver Damage

There are several reasons why the liver gets damaged. One of the most common culprits is alcoholism. Another is hemachromatosis, whereby too much iron is deposited in the liver. Other causes of liver damage are genetic or metabolic in origin.

Liver disease can also be induced by diseases like hepatitis B and C. In some very rare cases, the body’s immune system goes after and destroys the liver cells. There is also a delay in blood clotting due to the liver’s damaged state. Part of the liver’s task is to create blood clotting protein.

If you experience some of the symptoms of liver damage as indicated here, visit your physician. At the same time, you should drink moderately to avoid damaging the liver in any way.