The chronic stage of liver disease, liver cirrhosis, does not occur in one day. Your liver gives you tons of signs and signals that you deliberately ignore. The result then leads you to liver cancer and liver transplant. With a rise in such chronic liver diseases, experts are getting more vocal about the earliest symptoms of liver cirrhosis to help you. Get aware and don’t let the silent killer of your liver win this battle.
Early Warning Signs That Indicate Developing Liver Cirrhosis
The gastroenterologist from Apple Hospital gives his expert insights into liver cirrhosis. It all starts with fatty liver, and then it progresses from grade 1 to grade 3 and slowly turns into liver cirrhosis. From alcohol to diabetes and obesity, there can be a lot of reasons behind this deadly liver condition.
Talking about the early signs of liver cirrhosis, the expert has enlisted quite a few common yet neglected symptoms, including
- Yellowish eyes – A yellow tint in the whites of the eyes (jaundice) happens when the damaged liver can’t clear bilirubin properly, signalling serious liver stress.
- Dark yellow-coloured urine – Very dark, tea- or cola-coloured urine can indicate high bilirubin levels in the blood, often linked to poor liver function.
- Water retention in the belly – Swelling or a bloated abdomen (ascites) occurs when the liver can’t regulate fluid balance, causing fluid to leak and collect in the belly.
- Sore legs and joints – Persistent pain or heaviness in legs and joints may result from poor circulation, fluid retention, or inflammation linked to liver damage.
- Fatigue – Constant tiredness or low energy happens because a cirrhotic liver cannot efficiently detoxify blood or store and release energy, leaving you feeling drained.
Neglecting these earlier signs then leads to greater complications like vomiting blood, black stool, and reduced amount of urine.
Major Lifestyle and Medical Causes Behind Liver Cirrhosis
In liver cirrhosis, healthy liver tissue is gradually replaced by scar tissue, which blocks normal blood flow through the liver and affects its ability to function. This serious condition often develops slowly over many years and is closely linked to everyday lifestyle habits and certain infections.
Regularly eating unhygienic roadside food can expose you to Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses, which may damage liver cells and eventually lead to cirrhosis. Long-term, heavy alcohol consumption is another major cause, as it directly injures liver cells. Additionally, frequent junk food and a high-fat, high-sugar diet can cause fatty liver disease, which, if left unchecked, can progress to cirrhosis over time.
Therefore, it becomes highly important to follow a sincere diet instead of a whimsical one. Getting aware of what you are eating and how it impacts your liver is important. Moreover, it is important to sincerely note the signs of liver cirrhosis and consult a doctor if you have any.
Disclaimer: This content, including advice, provides general information only. It is not a substitute for a qualified medical opinion in any way. The methods and claims mentioned in this article should be considered as suggestions only; DNP India neither confirms nor denies them. Always consult a doctor before following any such suggestions/treatments/medications/diets.
