side effects of liver disease

What are the first signs of a bad liver?

There are several signs of a bad liver caused by scarring:

• Persistent lethargy
• Pain in the back, sides, thighs, and abdomen
• High blood pressure
• Rashes or itchiness in the abdomen
• Poor or high fluid retention
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Stomach cramps
• Sores or ulcers
• Dehydration

How do other illnesses affect liver disease?

• Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of liver disease.
• As alcohol is directly toxic to liver cells and can cause liver inflammation.
• It is also referred as alcoholic hepatitis.
• Inchronic alcohol abuse there is a fat accumulation occurs in liver cells.

What can be the symptoms when you have a liver disease?

Signs and symptoms of liver disease include:

• Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice).
• Abdominal pain and swelling.
• Swelling in the legs and ankles.
• Itchy skin.
• Dark urine color.
• ... (more items)

What drugs cause liver disease?

What are some important examples of drug-induced liver disease?

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Statins
• Nicotinic acid (Niacin)
• Amiodarone (Cordarone)
• Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• Antibiotics
• Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Tacrine (Cognex)
• Disulfiram (Antabuse)
• Vitamins and Herbs

What are the five signs of liver damage?

Five Liver Damage Warning SignsFluid Retention. When there is a buildup of scar tissue in the liver known as cirrhosis, the blood flow through the liver is blocked. ... Jaundice. ... Nausea/Loss of Appetite. ... Pale Stools. ... Bruising. ... Caring for Your Liver.

What happens to your body when you have liver disease?

Liver failure can affect many of your body's organs. Acute liver failure can cause such complications as infection, electrolyte deficiencies and bleeding. Without treatment, both acute and chronic liver failure may eventually result in death.

How do you know if your liver is struggling?

Some signs your liver may be struggling are:Fatigue and tiredness. ... Nausea (feeling sick). ... Pale stools. ... Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice). ... Spider naevi (small spider-shaped arteries that appear in clusters on the skin). ... Bruising easily. ... Reddened palms (palmar erythema). ... Dark urine.More items...•

Are liver diseases curable?

No, there is no cure for cirrhosis. The damage already done to your liver is permanent. However, depending on the underlying cause of your cirrhosis, there may be actions you can take to keep your cirrhosis from getting worse.

What are the 4 warning signs of a damaged liver?

Tip-offs to Liver DamageJaundice or yellowing of the eyes or skin.Pain and distention of the abdomen due to the release of fluid from the liver.Swelling of lower legs due to fluid retention.Confusion or forgetfulness. ... Dark-colored urine.Pale-colored stool.Chronic fatigue.Nausea or vomiting.

What are the 4 stages of liver disease?

Stages of liver failureInflammation. In this early stage, your liver becomes enlarged or inflamed. ... Fibrosis. Fibrosis happens when an inflamed liver begins to scar. ... Cirrhosis. In the cirrhosis stage, severe scarring has built up on your liver. ... End-stage liver disease (ESLD) ... Liver cancer.

How can you check your liver at home?

Home tests require a blood sample, often from a finger prick. Some of these screenings may look at different markers to screen for liver and other organ health. For example, some companies offer a lipid or cholesterol test that can monitor both liver and heart health.

What part of the body itches with liver problems?

Symptoms of itching with liver disease Itching associated with liver disease tends to be worse in the late evening and during the night. Some people may itch in one area, such as a limb, the soles of their feet, or the palms of their hands, while others experience an all-over itch.

How do I make my liver healthy again?

Here are 13 tried and true ways to achieve liver wellness!Maintain a healthy weight. ... Eat a balanced diet. ... Exercise regularly. ... Avoid toxins. ... Use alcohol responsibly. ... Avoid the use of illicit drugs. ... Avoid contaminated needles. ... Get medical care if you're exposed to blood.More items...•

Is liver failure painful?

Signs and symptoms of acute liver failure may include: Yellowing of your skin and eyeballs (jaundice) Pain in your upper right abdomen.

How do you know if your liver is inflamed?

An inflamed liver has become enlarged beyond the size of a normal organ of its type....Symptoms of an inflamed liver can include:Feelings of fatigue.Jaundice (a condition that causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow)Feeling full quickly after a meal.Nausea.Vomiting.Pain in the abdomen.

How do I know if my liver is bleeding?

A build-up of pressure from your liver makes the blood vessels swell and burst. Bleeding varices is very serious and may be life threatening. The symptoms of bleeding varices are vomiting blood or having black, tarry, sticky stools (poo). If you have either of these symptoms you need URGENT MEDICAL HELP.

What are the problems that can occur in the liver?

Liver problems that can occur include fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. The liver and its cells — as seen through a microscope — change dramatically when a normal liver becomes fatty or cirrhotic.

What causes liver problems?

Liver problems can also be caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity. Over time, conditions that damage the liver can lead to scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition. But early treatment may give the liver time to heal.

What are the most common types of liver infections?

The most common types of liver infection are hepatitis viruses, including: Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B.

How to prevent liver disease?

To prevent liver disease: Drink alcohol in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men. Heavy or high-risk drinking is defined as more than eight drinks a week for women and more than 15 drinks a week for men. Avoid risky behavior.

Why is the liver important?

The liver is essential for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances. Liver disease can be inherited (genetic). Liver problems can also be caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity. Over time, conditions that damage the liver can lead to scarring (cirrhosis), ...

Where is the liver located?

About the size of a football, it's located mainly in the upper right portion of your abdomen, beneath the diaphragm and above your stomach.

How to prevent hepatitis?

Avoid contact with other people's blood and body fluids. Hepatitis viruses can be spread by accidental needle sticks or improper cleanup of blood or body fluids. Keep your food safe. Wash your hands thoroughly before eating or preparing foods .

What are the symptoms of liver disease?

These include: yellow skin and eyes, known as jaundice. dark urine. pale, bloody, or black stool. swollen ankles, legs, or abdomen. nausea. vomiting. decreased appetite.

What happens when your liver is damaged?

Liver failure. Chronic liver failure typically happens when a significant part of your liver is damaged and can’t function properly. Generally, liver failure related to liver disease and cirrhosis happens slowly. You may not have any symptoms at first. But over time, you might start to notice: jaundice.

What happens if you leave your liver untreated?

This condition causes your immune system to attack your liver, resulting in inflammation. Left untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). This results from damage to the bile ducts in your liver, causing a buildup of bile.

What causes copper to be released into the bile ducts?

Wilson’s disease causes your liver to absorb copper instead of releasing it into your bile ducts. Eventually, your liver may become too damaged to store more copper, allowing it to travel through your bloodstream and damage other parts of your body, including your brain.

What causes the liver to store more iron than it needs?

Several genetic conditions, which you inherit from one of your parents, can also affect your liver: Hemochromatosis causes your body to store more iron than it needs. This iron remains in your organs, including your liver. This can lead to damage over a long period of time if not managed.

What is it called when you have cancer in your liver?

If cancer starts elsewhere in the body but spreads to the liver, it’s called secondary liver cancer. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma. It tends to develop as several small sports of cancer in your liver, though it can also start as a single tumor.

How many alcoholic drinks a week can cause liver disease?

One of the most well-known ones is heavy drinking, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention#N#Trusted Source#N#defines as more than eight alcoholic drinks a week for women and more than 15 drinks a week for men.

What are the symptoms of liver disease?

Share Your Story. Classic symptoms of liver disease include nausea, vomiting, right upper quadrant abdominal pain, and jaundice (a yellow discoloration of the skin due to elevated bilirubin concentrations in the bloodstream). Fatigue, weakness, and weight loss may also occur.

What causes liver damage?

Blood flow to the liver may be compromised. Liver tissue can be damaged by chemicals and minerals, or infiltrated by abnormal cells, like cancer cells. Alcohol abuse and liver disease: Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of liver disease in North America.

What are the functions of the liver?

The liver can be considered a factory, and among its many functions include: 1 Production of bile that is required in the digestion of food, in particular, fats 2 Storing of the extra glucose or sugar as glycogen, and then converting it back into glucose when the body needs it for energy 3 Production of blood clotting factors 4 Production of amino acids (the building blocks for making proteins), including those used to help fight infection 5 The processing and storage of iron necessary for red blood cell production 6 The manufacture of cholesterol and other chemicals required for fat transport 7 The conversion of waste products of body metabolism into urea that is excreted in the urine 8 Metabolizing medications into their active ingredient in the body

What is the cause of cirrhosis in the liver?

Budd Chiari syndrome is a disease in which blood clots form in the hepatic vein and prevent blood from leaving the liver. This can increase pressure within the blood vessels of the liver, especially the portal vein. This pressure can cause liver cells to die and lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.

How long does cirrhosis last?

Symptoms include yellowing of the skin (jaundice), itching, and fatigue. The prognosis is good for some people with cirrhosis of the liver, and the survival can be up to 12 years; however the life expectancy is about 6 months to 2 years for people with severe cirrhosis with major complications.

What are the physical findings of liver disease?

Liver disease can have physical findings that affect almost all body systems including the heart, lungs, abdomen, skin, brain and cognitive function, and other parts of the nervous system. The physical examination often requires evaluation of the entire body. Blood tests help assess liver inflammation and function.

What is the liver responsible for?

The liver is responsible for many critical functions within the body and should it become diseased or injured, the loss of those functions can cause significant damage to the body. Liver disease is also referred to as hepatic disease.

What are the symptoms of fatty liver?

If you do have symptoms, they may include: Abdominal pain or a feeling of fullness in the upper right side of the abdomen (belly). Nausea, loss of appetite or weight loss. Yellowish skin and whites of the eyes ( jaundice ).

What is fatty liver disease?

Fatty liver disease (steatosis) is a common condition caused by having too much fat build up in your liver. A healthy liver contains a small amount of fat. It becomes a problem when fat reaches 5% to 10% of your liver’s weight.

How many people have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?

The condition affects one in three adults and one in 10 children in the United States. Researchers haven’t found the exact cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Several factors, such as obesity and diabetes, can increase your risk.

What is the liver cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis of the liver is a result of severe damage to the liver. The hard scar tissue that replaces healthy liver tissue slows down the liver’s functioning. Eventually, it can block liver function entirely. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.

What is elevated liver enzymes?

Elevated liver enzymes are a sign your liver is injured. To make a diagnosis, your doctor may order: Ultrasound or computed tomography (CT scan) to get a picture of the liver. Liver biopsy (tissue sample) to determine how far advanced liver disease has progressed.

What is the term for the accumulation of fat in the liver as a result of heavy drinking?

Alcoholic liver disease. Alcoholic fatty liver is the accumulation of fat in the liver as a result of heavy drinking. (Moderate drinking is defined as one drink a day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.) About 5% of people in the U.S. have this form of liver disease.

Can fatty liver disease be detected by blood test?

Because fatty liver disease often has no symptoms, your doctor may be the first one to spot it. Higher levels of liver enzymes ( elevated liver enzymes) that turn up on a blood test for other conditions may raise a red flag. Elevated liver enzymes are a sign your liver is injured.

What happens when your liver stops working?

Liver failure happens when large parts of the liver become damaged beyond repair and the liver can’t work anymore. There are two types of live failure: Acute: This is when your liver stops working within a matter of days or weeks. Most people who get this don’t have any type liver disease or problem before this event.

What disease is associated with liver failure?

Autoimmune hepatitis: As with viral hepatitis, this disease, in which your body attacks your liver, can lead to acute liver failure. Wilson’s disease: This genetic disease prevents your body from removing copper. It builds up in, and damages, your liver.

What causes liver failure?

Causes of Chronic Liver Failure. The most common causes of chronic liver failure include: Hepatitis B: It makes your liver swell and stops it from working the way it should. Hepatitis C: If you have it long-term, it can lead to cirrhosis. Long-term alcohol consumption: It also leads to cirrhosis.

What is the genetic condition that can lead to lung or liver disease?

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: This genetic condition can lead to lung or liver disease. Liver cancer: People with long-term hepatitis B or hepatitis C often get this. Liver adenoma: This is when benign liver tumors are on an otherwise healthy liver. This often affects women between ages 20 and 44.

What causes inflammation in the liver?

Hepatitis A: Contact with food or water contaminated with the hepatitis A virus, or with a person who’s infected with virus, can cause liver inflammation. This type usually goes away on its own. Autoimmune hepatitis: In this type, your body’s immune system, not a virus, attacks your liver and causes inflammation.

What age does fatty liver disease affect women?

This often affects women between ages 20 and 44. Fatty liver disease: Extra fat cells can build up on your liver. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease often affects people who are overweight, obese, or have high cholesterol. Alcohol-related fatty liver disease affects heavy drinkers.

How long does it take for liver failure to happen?

Liver failure is a life-threatening condition that demands urgent medical care. Most often, liver failure happens gradually, over many years. It’s the final stage of many liver diseases. But a rarer condition known as acute liver failure happens rapidly (in as little as 48 hours) and can be difficult to detect at first.

What is the best way to diagnose liver disease?

Liver biopsy. A liver biopsy is considered the best way to determine the severity of liver disease. During a liver biopsy , a doctor will insert a needle into your liver and remove a piece of tissue for examination. They will give you a local anesthetic to lessen the pain.

What to do if you have fatty liver disease?

If you have fatty liver disease, your doctor might encourage you to adjust your diet to help treat the condition and lower your risk of complications . For example, they might advise you to do the following:

What is the name of the disease where fat builds up in the liver?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs when fat builds up in the liver of people who don’t drink a lot of alcohol. If you have excess fat in your liver and no history of heavy alcohol use, your doctor may diagnose you with NAFLD.

What is fatty liver?

Fatty liver is also known as hepatic steatosis. It happens when fat builds up in the liver . Having small amounts of fat in your liver is normal, but too much can become a health problem. Your liver is the second largest organ in your body. It helps process nutrients from food and drinks and filters harmful substances from your blood.

What does elevated liver enzymes mean?

Elevated liver enzymes are a sign of liver inflammation. Fatty liver disease is one potential cause of liver inflammation, but it’s not the only one. If you test positive for elevated liver enzymes, your doctor will likely order additional tests to identify the cause of the inflammation.

Why does my liver have a scar?

It helps process nutrients from food and drinks and filters harmful substances from your blood. Too much fat in your liver can cause liver inflammation, which can damage your liver and create scarring . In severe cases, this scarring can lead to liver failure.

Why does my liver get fatty?

Causes of fatty liver. Fatty liver develops when your body produces too much fat or doesn’t metabolize fat efficiently enough. The excess fat is stored in liver cells, where it accumulates and causes fatty liver disease. This build-up of fat can be caused by a variety of things.

What are the complications of cirrhosis?

Complications. Complications of cirrhosis can include: High blood pressure in the veins that supply the liver (portal hypertension). Cirrhosis slows the normal flow of blood through the liver, thus increasing pressure in the vein that brings blood to the liver from the intestines and spleen.

What causes cirrhosis in the liver?

Causes. A wide range of diseases and conditions can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis. Some of the causes include: Chronic alcohol abuse. Chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, C and D) Fat accumulating in the liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) Iron buildup in the body (hemochromatosis) Cystic fibrosis.

What is the scar tissue in the liver?

In cirrhosis (right), scar tissue replaces normal liver tissue. Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism. Each time your liver is injured — whether by disease, excessive alcohol consumption or another cause — it tries ...

What is the genetic disorder of the liver?

Genetic digestive disorder (Alagille syndrome) Liver disease caused by your body's immune system (autoimmune hepatitis) Destruction of the bile ducts (primary biliary cirrhosis) Hardening and scarring of the bile ducts (primary scleros ing cholangitis. Infection, such as syphilis or brucellosis.

Where is the liver located?

About the size of a football, it's located mainly in the upper right portion of your abdomen, beneath the diaphragm and above your stomach.

Can cirrhosis be undone?

Advanced cirrhosis is life-threatening. The liver damage done by cirrhosis generally can't be undone.

Can alcohol cause cirrhosis?

Drinking too much alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for cirrhosis. Being overweight. Being obese increases your risk of conditions that may lead to cirrhosis, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Having viral hepatitis.