Liver Failure: Symptoms, Causes & Early Warning Signs

The liver needs to function properly in order to live a normal life. It helps fight infection, stores energy and helps digest food. Without the proper functioning of the liver, you are prone to a number of symptoms. If the symptoms are not diagnosed and liver failure goes undetected, you could die.

Early Symptoms

• The early symptoms include nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea and fatigue. Unfortunately, these symptoms are also similar to the flu.

Jaundice

• Whenever the skin turns yellow and the mucous in the eyes yellow, there is a good chance there is liver failure and the result is jaundice. Jaundice will also turn the urine dark.

Cholestasis

• Cholestasis is the reduced or stoppage of bile flow. The result is dark urine and pale stools. The gallbladder becomes enlarged and there is bone loss.

Portal Hypertension

• Portal hypertension is high blood pressure in the portal vein, which feeds blood to the liver. The result is fluid build-up in the abdomen and bleeding in the esophagus.

Liver Encephalopathy

• Liver encephalopathy is the deterioration of the brain. The result is confusion, changes in behavior and loss of consciousness.