11/09/2023
Liver diseases are diseases that form in the liver due to causes such as genetics, viral infections, alcoholism... with typical symptoms being damage to liver cells. These lesions will form fibrous bands leading to liver failure and if not treated promptly, will threaten the patient's life.
Yellow skin, yellow eyes
This is the most accurate sign of liver disease.
Bilirubin is a normal component of the body. It is yellow in color and is formed after red blood cells die. Because bilirubin is insoluble in water, it cannot be excreted by the kidneys and can only be converted into conjugated bilirubin in the liver.
In the case of a healthy liver, it is easy to eliminate bilirubin. However, when the liver is damaged, it can no longer perform this function, causing bilirubin to accumulate, causing jaundice and yellow eyes (yellow whites of the eyes).
Bruises appear under the skin
People with liver disease easily bruise under the skin even from light impacts. The cause of this symptom is due to a problem with the liver that slows or stops producing blood clotting proteins, causing the blood clotting process to take place more slowly. This is also a common sign of liver disease and is easy to recognize with the naked eye, so people need to pay attention when encountering this condition regularly.
Star veins on the skin
Asterisks are networks of small arterioles that appear just below the surface of the skin. Normally, it is difficult to observe these pulse marks. However, in patients with liver disease, these asterisks will appear clearly on the skin, especially on the arms, neck, face, and upper half of the chest.
Swollen feet
When function is impaired, the liver is no longer able to regulate, leading to increased pressure on blood vessel walls. Because water will also accumulate more in the soles of the feet and not be circulated, causing swelling of the feet. Signs of leg swelling are quite common and occur in most patients.
Abdominal bloating
Abdominal bloating is one of the clear signs of liver disease
When liver function is impaired, it will cause a lot of fluid retention, causing the abdomen to swell. In addition, it also puts pressure on the abdominal muscles, causing difficulty breathing.
Fatigue, loss of appetite
Patients will have symptoms of nausea, loss of appetite, and loss of appetite. The cause is related to the production and excretion of bile by the liver. Bile helps emulsify and break down fats so they can be digested. When the liver has problems, this function will be affected.
Urine is dark in color
Dark urine could be because you are not drinking enough water every day or are using certain medications. However, if the urine color is much darker than normal plus symptoms of white stools, it is most likely a sign of liver disease.
When this symptom appears, you need to go to the hospital for immediate treatment because your liver function may have been seriously impaired.
Itching, hives, pimples
When liver function is impaired, the ability to filter and eliminate waste in the body is weakened and will accumulate in the body, causing internal heat and itchy skin. Therefore, if frequent skin itching occurs, you should recheck liver function.
Disorientation, forgetfulness
When the liver functions poorly and cannot eliminate all toxins before entering the blood, toxins (especially ammonia) can attack the nervous system, leading to changes in behavior and mood. mental state. Symptoms include: Emotions, mood swings, reduced ability to concentrate and think, drowsiness, poor memory, dementia, loss of sense of direction, fainting, deep coma... Symptoms Symptoms will become more serious with each level of the disease.
Right lower quadrant pain
Symptoms of right upper quadrant pain are also an early sign of liver disease. The pain is dull, painful in one place, then increases and can spread to the right side. In particular, in some cases, after eating foods with high fat content, the pain becomes more intense.
Bad breath
When the ability to remove toxins in the blood decreases, breath will smell.
Change in stool color
Stool color changing to gray, yellow or pale is also a sign of liver dysfunction.
Dangerous complications of liver disease
When the liver is damaged, toxins or viruses or bacteria accumulate in the liver more and more but are not processed by the liver, directly or indirectly activating Kupffer cells to become overactive, releasing many substances. causes inflammation and necrosis of liver cells. This causes a sharp reduction or even loss of the liver's ability to detoxify, making the disease even more severe.
Some dangerous complications of liver disease:
Hepatic encephalopathy: Hepatic encephalopathy (hepatic coma) is one of the most serious complications and often occurs on a background of chronic liver disease (end-stage chronic hepatitis, decompensated cirrhosis) when liver function is impaired. Liver function has been impaired. At this time, toxins absorbed from the intestines are not processed by the liver and accumulate in the blood, then carried to the brain. Toxins accumulate in the brain more and more, reducing brain function, damaging the central nervous system, leading to reduced patient awareness.
Symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy in the early stages include loss of spatial and temporal orientation; happy, sad, irritable for no reason,.....
