Are you drinking too much alcohol?
Drinking a large amount of alcohol can lead to a build-up of fats in the liver. This is called alcoholic fatty liver disease. The liver has the ability to heal itself. However, if there is no relief from excessive alcohol consumption, then there will soon come a point where your liver's self-generating and healing ability will be compromised.
A damaged liver may or may not exhibit warning signs to change your lifestyle and seek treatment. Further, some early warning signs that do show up may be falsely attributed to numerous ailments.
It is important to be aware of these vague symptoms to understand that your highly important organ is affected by excessive alcohol intake. Here are some early warning signs to note.
Abdominal pain
A common tell-tale sign of fatty liver disease is abdominal pain, tenderness, discomfort or a feeling of fullness in the upper right side of the abdomen. It is important to note that what feels like a stomach ache may be caused by another organ in your abdomen, such as your liver.
Loss of appetite
Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to inflammation in the liver, which will keep on increasing with continued alcohol intake. This can lead to alcoholic hepatitis which may present itself in the sign of loss of appetite.
Fatigue
Excess fat in the liver can lead to inflammation, which may promote the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines can contribute to feelings of fatigue and general malaise. It is important to consult a doctor and not ignore these symptoms.
Diarrhea
According to the National Institutes of Health, US, delayed small bowel transit in cirrhosis may lead to the development of small bacterial overgrowth, which could contribute to diarrhea.
Read more: Can untreated PCOD result in Ovarian cancer? Expert answers
More telling signs of liver damage
Apart from the above-mentioned early warning signs, further liver damage may lead to more symptoms. This includes:
- Jaundice
- Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet caused by a build-up of fluid
- Swelling in the abdomen
- High temperature and shivering attacks
- Very itchy skin
- Hair loss
- Unusually curved fingertips and nails
- Blotchy red palms
- Significant weight-loss
- Passing black poop and vomiting blood due to internal bleeding
- A tendency to bleed and bruise more easily
- Increased sensitivity to alcohol and drugs as the liver can no longer process them
Start a Conversation
Post comment