The doctor named the first signs that you have liver problems

Liver diseases are often diagnosed in late stages. Gastroenterologist Elvira Komkova told "Gazeta.Ru" about how to identify the first signs of problems with this organ.

"The liver is often called a 'silent organ' because it has no pain receptors. Pain sensations can only come from the liver capsule - a dense surrounding membrane that stretches during inflammation, edema, or tumor growth. This is when the feeling of heaviness, discomfort, or dull pain in the right hypochondrium appears. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen immediately, so the disease has time to progress," she explained.

Other symptoms that indicate significant organ damage, often at the stage of cirrhosis or severe acute hepatitis, include: yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and eye sclera; darkening of urine; discoloration of stool; intense, excruciating itching throughout the body; accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, leading to abdominal enlargement and a feeling of tension.

At this time, special "liver" signs may appear on the patient's skin. For example, vascular stars on the face, chest and shoulders, as well as redness of the palms, known as "liver palms." And yellow plaques on the eyelids or skin are cholesterol deposits.

There are also earlier signs of liver damage, but few people pay attention to them. Nevertheless, several of them are important symptoms signaling the need to visit a doctor.

"Chronic fatigue and weakness without reason, not disappearing even after sleep and rest. This symptom is the earliest 'bell,' but is often written off as consequences of stress and other problems. In addition, nausea, loss of appetite, bitter taste in the mouth, bloating, irregular stools, as well as sleep disorders with daytime drowsiness and nighttime insomnia, deterioration of memory and concentration, irritability and apathy. It's worth paying attention to the easy appearance of bruises, as well as the appearance of small lipomas on the eyelids and skin, and an unpleasant sweet 'liver' smell from the mouth. Another symptom is unexplained weight loss," she said.

The good news for patients is that the liver is a unique organ with a phenomenal ability to regenerate, so problems with it are often reversible.

"Acute viral hepatitis A and E, drug-induced and toxic hepatitis provided that the exposure to poison is stopped, as well as bile stasis, respond well to treatment. Fatty liver disease can be overcome if the patient monitors their weight. In most cases, it is possible to get chronic viral hepatitis B and C, as well as autoimmune hepatitis, under control. Modern medicine is usually able to cope with liver cirrhosis in the formed stage, significantly extending the patient's life, as well as with liver cancer," the expert noted.

According to the doctor, it is much easier to prevent liver diseases than to cure them.

"For this, it's important not to abuse paracetamol and not to take any medications without a doctor's prescription. Avoiding alcohol and fatty, fried, spicy foods, combined with weight control, is the basis of prevention. It is equally important to protect yourself from hepatitis B through vaccination, as well as to avoid hepatitis C infection through barrier contraception and the use of disposable medical instruments. Even in the absence of complaints, once a year it's worth undergoing a medical examination and taking 'liver tests': ALT, AST, GGT, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, as well as doing an abdominal ultrasound. If any alarming symptoms appear, you should see a doctor as early as possible, without waiting for obvious problems," the doctor concluded.