What Are Some Symptoms of Liver Disease in Women?
Signs and symptoms of liver disease in both men and women may include swelling in the ankles and legs, abdominal swelling or pain, chronic fatigue and a loss of appetite, states Mayo Clinic. Additional symptoms may include yellowish skin and eyes, itchy skin, nausea or vomiting, and dark urine color.
Men and women experience similar signs and symptoms of liver disease. Some men and women exhibiting signs of liver disease may have bloody, tar-colored or pale stool color and a tendency to bruise easily, explains Mayo Clinic. Persistent symptoms of liver disease should be reported to a physician. Severe abdominal pain may require immediate medical attention.
Those exposed to other people's body fluids and blood or toxins and chemicals have an increased risk of liver disease, according to Mayo Clinic. Additional risk factors include engaging in unprotected sex, the presence of high levels of triglycerides in the blood, heavy alcohol use and sharing needles to inject drugs into the body. People who are deemed obese or who have been diagnosed with diabetes are also at increased risk for liver disease. In addition, anyone who had blood transfusions prior to 1992 or who possesses body piercings or tattoos is more at risk for the disease.
Liver disease is a disorder that causes the liver to function improperly or stop functioning, according to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. Several diseases and disorders associated with liver disease, including primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis, are known to affect middle-aged women more frequently.
