Typically, when we hear the word ‘hepatitis’, liver diseases will flash into mind, and it’s rightfully so. Hepatitis is nothing but an inflammation of the liver, several factors remain as the potential causes, like infections, toxins, alcohol, autoimmune conditions, or viruses such as hepatitis A, B, and C. But several people are not aware that hepatitis does not just stop at affecting the liver, it causes a host of other symptoms, notably involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
One of the early signs experienced by individuals with hepatitis is nausea and stomach pain, and you may be confused about the connection between the liver and the stomach. Furthermore, let’s delve into this blog to explore whether hepatitis infection can cause nausea and stomach pain.
What role does the liver play in digestion?
Before knowing the connection between hepatitis and nausea and stomach pain, it’s crucial to understand what the liver does:
- It helps in processing the nutrients absorbed from the intestines.
- Harmful substances in the blood will be detoxified.
- It produces bile, which aids in digestion, particularly in breaking down fats.
In case your liver is inflamed or injured, as in the case of hepatitis, its ability to perform these crucial tasks will be disturbed. This dysfunction will affect digestion, resulting in toxin buildup and triggering several symptoms, including those disturbing the stomach, when you should consider getting acute hepatitis treatment in Coimbatore to safeguard your health.
Why does hepatitis trigger nausea?
- Toxin accumulation:
When the liver functions properly, it will filter toxins and metabolic waste from the bloodstream. In hepatitis, notably in moderate to severe cases, an individual’s liver will fail to eliminate toxins. When these toxins start to accumulate in your body, they will affect your central nervous system and digestive system, resulting in nausea.
- Changes in bile production:
The liver produces bile, this substance plays a crucial role in digesting fats. With hepatitis, the production or flow of bile can be impaired. When bile is not properly secreted into the intestines, digestion will be affected, and the digestive tract becomes sluggish. This causes bloating, confusion, and nausea.
- Inflammatory signals:
With hepatitis, your immune system will release inflammatory chemicals known as cytokines. These have a range of effects, including on the brain’s vomiting center, thereby increasing the sensation of nausea even in the absence of food.
Why does hepatitis cause stomach pain?
- Liver inflammation and swelling:
Hepatitis will affect an individual’s liver, so it becomes tender and enlarged. As we all know, the liver is located in the top right side corner of the abdomen, just below the rib cage. Whenever it gets inflamed, it will disturb the surrounding organs or tissues by pressing on them, resulting in discomfort or sharp pain in the upper right abdomen, you often think this discomfort is stomach pain.
- Gastritis and related GI irritations:
A few forms of hepatitis, notably hepatitis C, abdominal pain, which has a connection with other gastrointestinal problems like gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach lining. Further, medications will be used to treat hepatitis, or the virus itself, which can disturb the stomach lining, causing pain, cramps, or indigestion.
- Bile flow obstruction:
As mentioned above, hepatitis will hinder bile production or result in cholestasis, which is a condition where bile cannot flow from the liver to the intestines. Eventually, pressure will build up in the liver and gallbladder area, causing abdominal pain that radiates or feels like intense pain.
Which type of hepatitis commonly causes these symptoms?
- Hepatitis A:
Contaminated water or food will cause Hepatitis A. It’s an acute short-term infection. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea often appear within weeks of exposure. Initially, several patients will think that they have a stomach bug or food poisoning.
- Hepatitis B:
Hepatitis B can be acute and chronic. In the acute phase, patients will experience flu-like symptoms including loss of appetite, nausea, and upper abdominal pain. Chronic hepatitis B may present subtly, but it still includes GI symptoms over time as liver damage progresses.
- Hepatitis C:
Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. While it is asymptomatic in its early stages, after some time, patients will experience fatigue, nausea, bloating, and abdominal pain, notably when liver cirrhosis develops.
The above-mentioned are the common hepatitis A, B, and C early symptoms, so whenever experiencing this, reach out to healthcare professionals to get immediate medical help.
What are the other symptoms associated with hepatitis?
Hepatitis will cause other symptoms apart from nausea and stomach pain, like:
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
- Pale-colored stools
- Fatigue
- Low-grade fever
- Loss of appetite
- Joint and muscle pain
These signs will often overlap and assist in differentiating hepatitis from other causes of gastrointestinal upset.
How can I manage the hepatitis symptoms?
In case you are diagnosed with hepatitis and experiencing signs such as hepatitis B stomach pain, and nausea, here are some helpful tips:
- Dietary adjustments:
- Consume small, frequent meals instead of large ones.
- Stay away from greasy, spicy, or fried items that worsen nausea.
- Hydration:
- Drink clear fluids the whole day.
- Try herbal teas such as ginger to soothe nausea.
- Rest:
- Fatigue will worsen your stomach pain, so prioritize sleep and rest.
- Medication:
- Take medications that are only prescribed by your doctor.
- Never use over-the-counter painkillers, because they can damage your liver.
Simply, when any of the above-mentioned methods is not helping you, reach out to best gastro hospital in Coimbatore to get best treatment
Final thoughts:
In conclusion, we can say that hepatitis will cause nausea and stomach pain, and these are among the more common symptoms, notably in the early stages of the disease. These signs often stem from the liver’s inability to process toxins and produce bile efficiently, along with the inflammation it triggers. Simply, as these symptoms are similar to digestive issues, we will often overlook this. So, it’s crucial to be aware of the full picture, notably if symptoms persist, worsen, or appear alongside signs such as jaundice.
