The liver plays a vital function in keeping you healthy. It removes the toxins in your blood, processes medications, and creates proteins that are crucial to ensure blood clotting. This is just scratching the surface of what makes it vital. Sometimes, the liver may suffer damage caused by viruses, excessive alcohol consumption, fat, and other factors that could cause liver damage.
Although the liver has the ability to regenerate itself after the damage that does not mean that it is invincible. Women can take care of their livers and their health by becoming aware. Let’s examine the definition of liver disease and the typical signs women should be aware of which could indicate liver disease.
What Is Liver Disease?
As per the Cleveland Clinic, liver disease is a term used to describe “several conditions that can affect and damage your liver.” According to the source, liver diseases can be a result of viral infection (such as the hepatitis virus) or issues with your immune system or cancer, and in some cases, it may be caused by genetic diseases (such as Wilson hemochromatosis or Wilson disease).
Sometimes, liver disease may be caused by eating excess toxins such as alcohol (known as the alcoholic fatty liver disorder) as well as cholesterol (known in the field of nonalcoholic liver diseases). If not treated, liver disease may lead to cirrhosis which can cause scarring to the liver.
Common Signs of Liver Disease in Women
Early intervention is crucial for liver disease as if untreated, it could result in cirrhosis. As this happens, more scar tissue is created replacing healthy tissues and if not treated the liver will not be functioning as it should which can lead to liver failure or even cancer.
How do women determine whether they are suffering from liver disease? The symptoms can differ based on the cause, but the most commonly reported symptoms to watch out for include nausea, abdominal pain, or fatigue, as well as changes in the quality of your stool or urine. Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms that these indicators indicate and some more signs to keep an eye out for!
– Abdominal Pain
The liver is located on the upper right part of your abdomen, below the diaphragm, and above the right kidney, stomach, and intestines. A common sign of liver disease that women need to be aware of is abdominal pain that is felt in the upper right-hand side.
It is said that the Cleveland Clinic says sometimes the pain can be a stabbing feeling but other times it can be the sensation of a dull throbbing. Whatever the case, abdominal pain in the abdomen isn’t normal and should be evaluated by a physician.
– Liver Enlargement
An enlarged liver is usually an indication of liver disease. However, how can you tell whether your liver is inflamed? Though an enlarged liver may not necessarily cause discomfort, Johns Hopkins Medicine says that a liver that is enlarged can cause abdominal pain or an uncomfortable feeling within the abdominal area.
If you suddenly experience these symptoms, speak to your physician to determine the presence of an enlarged liver. According to the Mayo Clinic says a blood test could help “determine liver enzyme levels and identify viruses that can cause an enlarged liver.” If the results of a blood test aren’t enough to prove the existence of an overly large liver, your physician may recommend imaging tests, like computed tomography (CT) scan as well as magnetic image resonance (MRI).
– Nausea or Vomiting
It’s common to experience nausea or vomiting from time to time and especially when you’re sick due to food poisoning, motion sickness, flu, or a different type of illness. However, persistent, new or unprovoked nausea isn’t typical. In reality, unresolved nausea or vomiting may be a common sign of liver disease.
If the liver isn’t working correctly, waste products build within the body, which could result in nausea. There may be a loss of appetite or weight loss due to this.
– Fatigue
It’s normal to feel tired at times, but unprovoked fatigue, particularly prolonged fatigue, is cause for concern. It is reported by the National Library of Medicine says that fatigue is among the most frequent symptoms experienced by patients with liver disease. It is characterized by extreme fatigue and lower energy levels.
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