In the article, we consider the main symptoms of liver disease.
The liver is one of the main unpaired vital internal organs of a person located in the abdominal cavity and performing a huge number of various physiological functions. This organ, first of all, is a large digestive gland that produces bile, and also is a barrier to toxic substances of protein metabolism and an active participant in all types of metabolism.
The following are symptoms and signs of liver disease. The treatment is also described.
The liver is divided into the left and right lobes. The left lobe is also divided into two parts: square and caudate. The parenchyma of this organ is lobed, and the structural components of each lobe of the liver are plates, bile capillaries, intralobular hemocapillaries, cholangiols, the central vein and the perisinusoidal Disse space.
Liver function
As already mentioned, the liver has many functions:
- It neutralizes foreign substances by converting them into harmless or less harmful, which are easily eliminated from the body.
- It neutralizes the end products of metabolism and removes excess vitamins, hormones, etc. from the body.
- Provides the body with glucose, which occurs through the synthesis of energy sources.
- Restores the reserve and storage of some useful substances.
- Forms cholesterol and its esters.
- Synthesizes bilirubin and bile acids.
- It synthesizes hormones and enzymes that are involved in digestion in the small intestine.
- It serves as a place for storing blood, which, if necessary, for example, with blood loss, is thrown into the general vascular bed.
Most common pathologies
But various liver diseases, for example, cirrhosis, hemangiomas, cancer, various cysts and infectious diseases, can interfere with the proper performance of these functions. The most common liver pathology today is cirrhosis, which is a chronic liver disease characterized by a change in lobular structure due to an increase in the volume of connective tissue. This disease manifests itself in the form of functional insufficiency, as well as high pressure syndrome in the portal vein. The main reason for the development of cirrhosis is alcoholism, viral hepatitis, the presence of harmful organisms in the body.
Symptoms and signs of liver disease in men and women are not much different.
For the treatment of this organ, liver cleansing is often used. In order for this organ to clean itself, it is necessary to abandon bad habits and reduce the load on the liver. For complete cleaning, you can consult a doctor. If liver therapy for some chronic ailments is already impossible, then in modern medicine there is only one option for helping the patient - liver transplantation.
The liver is very patient and is designed to serve throughout the human life. Nevertheless, it functions in a mode of serious stress, and the wrong lifestyle, the use of harmful products in most cases lead to diseases of this organ.
The main symptoms of liver disease
According to statistics, most often men complain to doctors about liver problems. A person can detect manifestations of organ diseases either on his own or when contacting a specialist.
The classic signs indicating liver disorders are:
- Bad taste in the mouth.
- Fatigue and irritability.
- Asthenia.
- Aching in the right abdomen.
- Yellowing of the sclera of the eyes, skin and tongue.
- The formation of bruises on the skin of stars.
- The occurrence of nosebleeds.
- Change in the color of feces and urine.
- Dyspepsia, flatulence, problems with stool.
- Swelling of the extremities.
Symptoms of liver disease can be difficult to recognize. It is often said that this organ is sick silently, because it does not have pain receptors. However, with impaired functions and an increase in the organ in volume, the enveloping capsule stretches and begins to put pressure on neighboring structures, which causes pulling sensations.
Jaundice of the skin is usually associated with a disorder of bile formation and an increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood. Such diseases have a bad effect on coagulability, which entails the formation of bruises, bruises and the occurrence of various bleeding. Violations in the liver affect the activity of the digestive tract.
Such a symptom of liver disease as pain does not immediately indicate a problem, because there are no pain producing receptors in the organ. Diseases of organs that work in conjunction with the liver often become background symptoms of impaired function.
The specialist in diagnosis should determine the additional manifestations of the ailment:
- Disruption of the gallbladder (the so-called "Courvoisier symptom", when palpation increases the gallbladder).
- Violation of the digestive tract.
- When pressing on the lower part of the right scapula, unpleasant sensations arise.
- Pasternatsky’s syndrome, when pain occurs during the striking of the lumbar region.
The liver is very patient. It does not give various warning symptoms, which are already found in advanced cases of diseases.
As already mentioned, symptoms of liver disease on the skin are often found.
Causes of the development of pathologies
The structure of the liver is similar to a sponge, which allows it to filter and cleanse the blood from various toxic substances. The accumulation of harmful elements in it is the main factor for the occurrence of diseases of this organ. The main causes of liver pathologies relate to the so-called "diseases of civilization", and these include:
- Uncontrolled use of a variety of drugs.
- Not enough quality food and water.
- Overweight.
- Viral infections.
- Wrong way of life.
- Chemical or mechanical injury to the liver.
- Chronic alcoholism (approximately 30% of all cases of disease).
The body perceives alcohol as a poison, which, when ingested, passes through a series of intermediate organs (stomach, intestines) through the bloodstream, detoxifies and is cleansed through the liver. An overdose of alcoholic beverages causes diseases of this organ. In cases of excessive consumption, hepatic cells (hepatocytes) begin to die intensively.
A man can consume no more than 25 g of alcohol per day, which corresponds to 50 ml of vodka, 100 ml of wine, 250 ml of beer. For women, these figures are halved.
Liver Disease Specialists
The treatment of pathologies of this organ is carried out by a specialist hepatologist. Methods that are used in the diagnosis of hepatic diseases include:
- Polyhepatography, which is considered a method for detecting any impaired liver function and assessing the state of metabolism in the body. This method allows you to compare the results of some other studies.
- Ultrasonography.
- Computed and magnetic resonance imaging.
- A blood test for alpha-fetoprotein.
Liver disorders specialists can also work with therapists, surgeons, and gastroenterologists. If we are talking about a disease such as hepatitis, then infectious disease specialists are involved in treatment.
Symptoms of liver disease in women
In addition to the main signs of the disease, there are also typical for the fairer sex:
- increased wrinkle formation;
- dryness and peeling of the skin;
- the appearance of age spots;
- loss of elasticity;
- red dots and "stars" on the face;
- icteric gray shade;
- swelling in the morning;
- small abscesses and rash due to a drop in immunity.
Diseases in children
The most common disease in children is hepatitis A, which is transmitted between children during a violation of hygiene standards. This disease proceeds easily, accompanied by symptoms of a common catarrhal pathology. Hepatitis B in children usually causes certain complications. Specialists recommend medical examination for such children, which allows for round-the-clock monitoring of their condition.
So, consider the signs and symptoms of liver disease.
Hepatitis
Diseases that are characterized by the multiplication of viruses in the liver cells are called viral hepatitis. These pathological processes cause inflammation of this organ. The classic symptoms of hepatitis are:
- Hyperthermia.
- Darkening of feces.
- Lightening urine.
- Yellowness of the eyes and skin.
Hepatitis A or Botkin’s disease belongs to the category of “dirty hands” diseases and is exclusively contact in nature. This pathology of the liver occurs with infectious lesions and proceeds, as a rule, in an anicteric form and negative consequences. There is no subjective symptomatology, and the disease is detected only during examination. However, in adulthood, hepatitis A is much more difficult to tolerate. A person develops immunity against hepatitis A if he has been ill with it at least once.
What other symptoms of liver diseases of this kind?
Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood. The disease, as a rule, drags on for a long time, which leads to very serious consequences in the form of cirrhosis and oncological tumors of the liver. In adults, the pathology is easier than in children. Hepatitis B virus is transmitted through sexual and domestic contact and, in order to become infected with it, the smallest infectious dose that is needed to start the disease is enough. The carrier of the virus of this species during the year, as a rule, infects its entire family. A third of the world's population are carriers of hepatitis B.
The most difficult to identify symptoms and manifestations of a liver disease called hepatitis C.
The virus enters the body through the bloodstream and through household and sexual contacts. However, the infectious dose is higher than that of hepatitis B, which means that it is more difficult to get sick. The disease proceeds in a latent form, periodically manifesting itself in the form of sharp complications. Leads hepatitis C to cirrhosis, fibrosis, and liver cancer. The disease, as a rule, is in the nature of a chronic form of infection. Hepatitis C is not transmitted through kisses, hugs, handshakes, etc.
Hepatitis E is a type of hepatitis A, but this disease is characterized by a more severe course. It develops in the absence of optimal hygiene conditions, as well as in violation of sanitary standards. For the development of pathology, a very high infectious dose is required. Hepatitis E is very common in Southeast Asia, and this disease develops only against the background of existing hepatitis B. Malignant forms of this pathology are most likely to result in death. What other signs and symptoms of liver disease are there?
Cirrhosis
With this disease, hepatocytes, liver cells, die, leaving connective tissue in place. This pathology is considered the last stage of many liver lesions. The main causes of cirrhosis are alcohol, viruses, and fat damage. The most common, according to statistics, is alcohol abuse, which prevents the liver from recovering in a timely manner. A less common prerequisite for the development of the disease is advanced hepatitis. Against the background of traditional symptoms, cirrhosis is manifested in the later stages, when there is a total destruction of liver cells. The organ begins to decrease in size, ceasing to remove toxins from the body. It is noteworthy that in men, symptoms of liver disease are detected most often.
Liver failure
A disease of this nature extends to any age. At the same time, the liver loses the functional qualities of its cells, which may be accompanied by encephalopathy (a change in the functioning of the brain).
Experts classify this pathology according to the time during which it develops: super-acute failure (in 7 days), acute (up to 21 days) and subacute (from 21 to 26 weeks). About one in five visits to a doctor leaves questions about the pathogenesis and main causes of this disease unanswered.
A variety of mechanical injuries, the use of drugs, chemical damage, and viral hepatitis can lead to the development of liver failure. In this case, the liver is completely affected, in rare cases - in isolation. Hepatic insufficiency leads to steatosis, necrosis, inflammation of this organ. Depression and mental illness are often accompanied by a disease.
Symptoms and signs of liver disease do not end there.
Liver cancer
This disease is most often characterized by the suddenness of its occurrence and is asymptomatic. Pain and discomfort in the right side of the abdomen appear only when the tumor has significantly increased in size. Patients often end up in a hospital with already inoperable liver cancer. There is also a risk group that includes people with hepatitis B or C, as well as cirrhosis. However, if the necessary examinations are taken annually, they can prevent the oncological disease, and if it occurs, resolve it surgically.
Liver cancer can develop both initially and can be metastases from neighboring organs.
Symptoms and signs of liver disease in women can occur due to cysts.
Liver cysts
This pathology is characterized by the presence in the liver of a special cavity, which is filled with liquid. Experts express a suspicion that in this kind of cavities are used their own, not overgrown bile ducts, which grow with the body.
Most often, this disease is experienced by women after forty years. This pathology does not have severe symptoms and can be detected on a planned ultrasound. The doctor sends the patient to a specialized clinic in order to clarify the question of the tumor nature of such a cyst, as it often signals the development of more serious diseases.
A cyst cannot be inherited, but with the polycystic nature of the disease, when a large number of such formations is observed, a tendency to this pathology is transmitted to the children from their parents. The cyst does not develop into a malignant tumor. But still, this is a very unpleasant liver disease. The doctor must be notified of the symptoms and signs of the disease in order to make a correct diagnosis.
Cholangitis
The liver has special passages that merge into the ducts for bile flowing into the gallbladder. This liquid is secreted during meals and sent to the intestines to dissolve the fats obtained with food. The nature of this disease is autoimmune, when the body itself attacks its ducts, deforms them, inflames and causes a disruption in the movement of bile, which begins to stagnate, leading to the destruction of the liver tissue.
From the list of clinical symptoms, pain in the right hypochondrium, weakness, yellowness of the sclera of the eye and skin, discoloration of urine and feces are noted. With cholangitis, the ducts begin to narrow and sclerotic, which eventually leads to cirrhosis. So it is important to recognize the symptoms and signs of the disease in a timely manner.
Treatment for liver disease should be immediate.
Fatty hepatosis
This pathology is obesity of liver cells and is most common among overweight people. Cases of alcohol intoxication exacerbate the course of the disease. In this case, the metabolic process is disrupted, and the liver cells cease to fulfill their main function and die, leaving in place the connective tissue sites.
Pathological disorders occur at the cellular level and lead to liver degradation, its increase and the formation of multiple cysts. Patient complaints are associated with mild severity, grunting in the intestines, flatulence and thinning of the stool. After biochemical analysis and ultrasound, the specialist determines the degree of fibrosis of the organ tissues. Fibrogastroscopy is performed to exclude varicose veins in the esophagus. Omission of the disease often leads to death.
What is the treatment for symptoms of liver disease?
Pathology treatment
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