Symptoms of liver disease, its stages, and the most important necessary liver tests

The liver is the second largest organ in the body and has great importance, so when it gets sick or has a problem, it can affect the whole body. Get to know us about Symptoms of liver disease And signs of a problem with it and the most important tests necessary to identify and treat these problems.

What are liver diseases and their causes?

In fact, there are several problems and diseases that can cause disease in the liver, whether due to infection with a virus, or because of exposure to chemicals such as drugs and alcohol, or due to hereditary or immune factors. It must also rebuild itself in the event of injury or damage to a part of it. When the liver is actually sick, it cannot perform these functions.

As for liver diseases, according to their causes, they include:

General symptoms of liver disease

There are several common symptoms that can appear in almost all liver diseases, including: Symptoms of liver problems The following are general:

  • jaundice
  • Abdominal bloating and pain.
  • itchy skin
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Dark urine color.
  • light stool color
  • chronic fatigue
  • swollen ankles
  • Anorexia.
  • Bruises appear easily.

Symptoms of the stages of liver disease

stages of liver disease

As for the stages of liver disease Certain signs may appear at each stage, including:

Symptoms of hepatitis

It is considered the first stage, where the liver becomes inflamed when it defends itself against viruses and when infected, and it shows several signs of inflammation, including:

  • Flatulence and swelling of the abdomen.
  • diarrhea.
  • Change in urine color and stool color.
  • Headache.
  • Tired.
  • Joint pain.
  • itchy skin
  • Anorexia.
  • mild fever
  • Feeling lethargic and malaise.
  • Nausea with or without vomiting.
  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes.

As for the symptoms of hepatitis that require going to the emergency room, they include:

  • bloody vomiting
  • severe abdominal pain
  • difficulty walking
  • Confusion, delirium, lethargy and hallucinations.

Symptoms of cirrhosis

Fibrosis is the occurrence of simple scars in the liver tissue that can develop into cirrhosis (which is the advanced stage of cirrhosis, also called scarring of the liverSymptoms of fibrosis appear as follows:

  • Anorexia.
  • Confusion and difficulty thinking clearly.
  • Fluid buildup in the abdomen and legs.
  • jaundice
  • Nausea.
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • general weakness.

Symptoms of cirrhosis

It is the late stage of fibrosis, which can develop into a life-threatening problem if not treated. Its symptoms include:

Symptoms of end-stage liver disease – liver failure

It is a very late stage that puts the patient at the top of the waiting lists Liver transplantbecause it indicates that the condition of the liver has become untreatable, as the damage reaches other organs such as the lungs and kidneys, and its symptoms appear at the beginning like the previous symptoms that we mentioned, such as diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and loss of appetite, but with the development of the condition, more severe symptoms can appear, such as:

  • jaundice
  • Bleeding easily.
  • abdominal bloating.
  • mental confusion
  • Lethargy and sleep all the time.

Symptoms of liver cancer

In fact, the appearance of symptoms can be delayed until the tumor grows and increases in size, causing pain in the right side of the abdomen or a feeling of fullness after eating a small amount of food. The patient may also feel some symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver along with other symptoms such as:

  • Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.
  • An enlarged liver can be felt by feeling the right side under the rib cage.
  • The spleen is enlarged and can be felt on the left side under the rib cage.
  • Abdominal pain or pain near the right shoulder.
  • ascites
  • jaundice
  • Increased swelling of the feet.

Necessary liver checks

With the appearance of symptoms of liver disease that we mentioned, the patient must go to the doctor immediately so that he can do the necessary examination, and the doctor will request several examinations that the patient must perform, including Liver function check Other tests and x-rays such as:

Finally, you should take care of the health of your liver and follow a healthy lifestyle to prevent liver disease that includes a healthy diet rich in foods beneficial to the liver and healthy drinks that do not contain alcohol. In the necessary time so as not to develop serious complications.