The main signs that may indicate liver damage include:
- Fatigue and general tiredness, as a damaged liver cannot filter toxins effectively.
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) caused by bilirubin buildup.
- Dark urine due to excess bilirubin being excreted.
- Pale or clay-colored stools when bile flow is reduced.
- Abdominal pain or swelling, particularly under the right ribs.
- Swelling in the legs and ankles from fluid retention.
- Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.
- Itchy skin caused by bile salts in the bloodstream.
- Easy bruising and bleeding due to reduced clotting factors.
- Confusion or brain fog from toxin buildup affecting brain function.
- Nausea and vomiting, potentially including vomiting blood in severe cases.
- Small spider-like blood vessels on the skin (spider angiomas).
- Reddened palms (palmar erythema).
Some symptoms, especially vomiting blood, severe confusion, black tarry stools, or jaundice that appears suddenly, require immediate medical attention. Early liver damage may cause vague symptoms or none at all, so testing by a doctor is important if liver damage is suspected. If any of these symptoms are present or there is concern about liver health, a healthcare professional should be consulted for appropriate liver function tests and diagnosis.
