Liver Disease Symptoms - A Test
Liver Disease Symptoms 1 – Jaundice
Be it a disease of the gall bladder or liver itself, jaundice is one of the main symptoms of liver disease. If the skin becomes jaundiced, then we know that there is most likely an issue with the Liver or Gall Bladder. Jaundice can either turn the skin yellow or orange depending on the type. With this, the whites of the eyes often take on a yellow color as well. Jaundice is the result of the liver not properly breaking down old blood and transforming it into bile. When Jaundice is quick to set in and is accompanied by flu like symptoms, it is important to be seen by a medical doctor to identify if the jaundice is being caused by acute hepatitis or severe infection in the gall bladder.
Liver Disease Symptoms 2 – Digestion and Appetite
Poor appetite is one of the most common symptoms of liver disease. The poor appetite that occurs in liver disease eventually leads to loss of weight. Improper metabolism of fat, carbohydrates, and proteins may complicate the situation.
Anemia is a more advanced result of improper nutrition from a poor appetite, along with disease in the hepatocytes (liver cells). On top of this, vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea can also occur. Sometimes blood is present in the vomitus, especially if a gastric ulcer is present. The increased rate of ulcers comes from a complex interaction of histamine, nitrogen, bile acids, gastrin, portal hypertension, and an altered mucous membrane lining of the stomach.
Liver Disease Symptoms 3 – Light Colored Stool
If the biliary duct is prevented from secreting normal bile pigments into the intestine due to either a lack of bile production or duct blockage, the stool will lack pigmentation and appear lighter in color. Irritable bowels and irregular bowel movements may also be present. If the stools become a light color, it is a clear sign of either liver disease or gall bladder disease. The natural dark color of stools comes almost exclusively from the bile. Light colored stools are a clear sign that either not enough bile is being produced or secreted, or it is not making its way to the intestines due to blockage of the bile duct from stones, scarring, or inflammation. Other descriptions of light colored stools include gray stools and pale stools.
Liver Disease Symptoms 4 – Distention and Bloating
A distended abdomen under the right lower ribs may be due to ascites or hepatomegaly. If the distention is severe enough breathing might be labored from pain or the pressure on the diaphragm.
Liver Disease Symptoms 5 – Polyuria and Polydypsia
Polyuria/polydypsia (PU/PD) - This is excess thirst and excess urination. This can occur in liver disease, although several other important diseases cause these symptoms as well.
Liver Disease Symptoms - A Test
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