4 Causes And 5 Symptoms Of Liver Failure

Liver failure occurs when the liver loses its ability to function normally and correctly. It is a progressive problem that causes severe liver damage.

Also called liver failure, it can be of two types: acute and chronic.

• In acute, the functions are affected very quickly.
• In chronic liver failure, problems appear gradually, and it may take a long time before showing signs.

Causes and symptoms of liver failure

As with most serious illnesses, liver failure has several causes. Make a note of the main one and find out if you are at risk of suffering.

If so, see your doctor for questions.

The most common causes are:

1. The presence of certain viruses

Throughout the day, we come into contact with many elements and toxins that can damage our liver.

Some of these elements are viruses that we can contract from different sources. The most harmful to liver health are the herpes virus and type A, B and E hepatitis.

2. Overuse of medications

Without a doubt, the right medications at the right time will give you the health you need. However, overdosing or taking medications you don’t need can lead to liver failure.

Among the drugs you should be especially careful with are:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Anticonvulsants
• antibiotics
• contraceptives

It is common for some people to increase the dosage or frequency of their medications when they feel the treatment is not having the desired effect.

Before making this decision,  see your doctor to find out if changes need to be made, or if you simply don’t notice the changes.

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3. Eating harmful foods

Some of the foods we eat regularly can provide a small amount of toxins. So you should pay attention to  identify which products make you feel bad and try to take a balanced diet.

• One of the most common foods in our diet, but which also carries a small degree of toxins, is mushrooms.
•  When you eat this fungus in large quantities, and also self-medicate or carry a virus, the chances of liver failure increase.

4. Consume a lot of alcohol

The last cause of liver failure is too much alcohol. While we already know that it’s best to limit these drinks as much as possible, the reality is that we don’t always do so.

However, a person who consumes  alcohol  many times a week undoubtedly puts his liver at risk. It is recommended that you never consume more than two glasses a day, and if you have or are thinking of doing so, include two glasses of water for each drink.

Symptoms of liver failure

Now that you know what the most common causes of liver failure are, it’s time to know what its symptoms are.

It is important to take into account that symptoms appear when the liver is already considerably damaged. For this reason, diagnosing this problem in the early stages is often difficult.

The most common symptoms are:

1. Changing skin color  

When there is liver failure, the skin changes to a slightly yellowish color. This is due to excessive accumulation of bilirubin in the skin.

Because the liver cannot process bilirubin, it accumulates in the blood and pigment under the skin.

2. Abdominal pain

Regardless of the cause of liver failure, one of the most common symptoms is abdominal pain.

This is usually due to the liver growing from inflammation, which makes it sensitive.

3. Indigestion

When liver failure starts to develop and causes severe damage to the liver, it stops producing bile. This is important because bile plays a key role in the digestive process.

When bile is not produced correctly, food is not digested as it should and indigestion occurs.

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4. Pale stools

Bile which is related to the digestive process also gives the stool a brown color. They are usually brown.

However, if they turn white or are too light in color, you should make sure your liver is working properly.

When liver problems occur and production of this fluid is limited, changes in the color of the stool occur.

5. Jaundice

Jaundice is a disease that leaves no doubt that the liver is malfunctioning.

When this disease is present, the skin color changes to yellow and  the whites of the eyes may also have a yellowish tint.

Liver failure should be treated as soon as your condition is known to prevent complications.

The treatment will depend on the cause that produced it, and even on the symptoms presented.

The most important thing is that you follow your doctor’s recommendations correctly.

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