How to Recognize the Symptoms of Liver Disease

Liver disease is a broad term for conditions, diseases, or infections that can make the liver function improperly or stop liver function altogether. Use this guide to help recognize the symptoms.

Instructions

Step 1: Learn the facts Learn what causes liver disease, including viruses, bacteria, and chemical or physical changes. Liver disease isn't always accompanied by obvious symptoms.
TIP: Check your family history. Liver disease can be hereditary.
Step 2: Look for the yellow Look for yellowing of the eyes or the skin, also known as jaundice, which is a clear indicator of liver disease.
Step 3: Notice changes in eating habits Pay attention to changes in your relationship with food and eating, including a loss of appetite, nausea, changes in your weight, and vomiting.
Step 4: Check your toilet Check your urine and stool. Liver disease symptoms include diarrhea, light-colored stool, and dark urine.
Step 5: Feel the itch Feel the itch -- liver disease can give you an itchy sensation that cannot be relieved.
Step 6: Know the pain Know what type of abdominal pain occurs with liver disease. Pain is typically in the upper right part of the stomach.
TIP: Pay attention to muscle aches and pains as well, as these can also be a symptom.
Step 7: Look for behavioral changes Look for changes in behavior, including depression, a loss of sex drive, fatigue, and a vague feeling of illness known as malaise.
Step 8: Get tested See your doctor and get a liver function test. If you have liver disease, your test will come back as abnormal. Talk with your doctor about the steps you need to take for treatment.
FACT: The liver is the largest organ inside the human body.