Due to the similarity of the symptoms with numerous other conditions, it may be difficult to recognize early liver disease symptoms as signs of liver disease. The earliest symptoms of liver disease, which often include loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea and fatigue that can mimic the symptoms of a slew of other conditions from the flu to a severe allergic reaction.
In order to recognize liver disease problems early, you have to know what symptoms are actually specific issues with the liver. The earliest symptoms that specify possible liver disease include constant sleepiness, bleeding easily when injured, even with just small cuts, mental confusion, and the most liver-specific symptoms of swollen abdomen and jaundice.
A swollen abdomen can occur due to many things that have nothing to do with major illness. Overeating, skipping meals and poor food choices can all lead to bloating and swollen abdomen. If a swollen abdomen lasts for several days, though, it is a good time to go to a doctor to ensure that the symptom is due to a simple condition and not to something more serious, like liver disease.
Jaundice is probably the most obvious sign of liver issues. Jaundice is the yellowing of the body pigments due to waste backing up in the system. This yellowing eventually shows on the skin, but becomes obvious first in the eyes, which will tint yellow. If you begin to see a yellowing of the eyes, you need to go to a doctor as soon as possible. Even if jaundice is not due to liver disease, it is a serious condition that requires treatment.
Knowing early liver disease symptoms and detecting liver disease early is extremely important for everyone. The sooner the disease is detected, the sooner it can be treated, and the early treatment of liver disease proves more successful than treatments started at a later stage of the disease.
Even though there’s no reason for concern when some of the basic signs of liver disease surface, if you show any signs of your abdomen being consistently swollen or of jaundice, especially of the eyes or if you feel uncomfortable after eating or when you use the bathroom, checking with a doctor and having them run tests on your liver is extremely important. A proper functioning liver is an important element of a healthy body. Without a functioning liver, waste will back up, which creates a number of other major health conditions and possible diseases.