Football legend Randy Moss sparked concern this week after saying he was “battling” an undisclosed health issue and asked for prayers.
Now doctors have told DailyMail.com they believe he probably suffers from a liver condition, based on pictures of Mr Moss which showed yellowing in his eyes.
The NFL legend, 47, revealed last night on Instagram that he was “fighting something internal” but would “get over it” and that he has “a great team of doctors.”
The former wide receiver did not disclose the condition, but doctors suggested several theories.
Dr. James Dello Russo, a New Jersey optometrist, told DailyMail.com that it was clear that Moss had jaundice, a yellowing of the whites of the eyes.
This is not a condition itself, but is usually a symptom of cirrhosis or liver damage.
Among the most common causes of this are viral infections, such as hepatitis B and C, or liver damage from alcohol. However, there is no evidence to suggest that alcohol played a role in Moss’ condition.
In other cases, the condition may also have been caused by liver cancer or an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the body.
Dr Dello Russo told DailyMail.com: ‘Randy doesn’t specify what type of internal condition he has, meaning we can only speculate on what it might be.
Randy Morris is pictured above on Sunday NFL Countdown. He sparked concern among some fans who said he had yellow in the whites of his eyes. The doctors agreed
It’s difficult to know what you have beyond jaundice, which is not actually a disease but rather a description of a yellowing of the whites of the eyes.
Revealing his illness in an Instagram video posted just before the Sunday NFL Countdown, Moss said, “Throughout the week and the holidays, your son has been battling something internal.”
‘I’m fighting something, man, something internal, but your boy will be able to overcome it. Now I have a great team of doctors and a great family around me.”
He told fans that he would try to continue working during the illness, but in cases where the whites of his eyes were yellow he would wear sunglasses.
Moss addressed the issue on ESPN’s coverage of the Sunday NFL Countdown.
added : ‘I just wanted to share something with all of you. I put up a post a few minutes ago on Instagram just telling people – you were talking about my eyes last week – and I just want viewers to know that my wife and I, my family and I, are fighting something internal. .
‘I have some excellent doctors around me. “I couldn’t miss the show, I wanted to be here with you.”
He added that he felt “great.”
Moss did not divulge any other details about his health and DailyMail.com has contacted him for comment.
It comes after concern grew last week when viewers noticed Moss’s eyes appeared yellow. Since then he began wearing sunglasses during his television appearances.
Jaundice is caused because the liver cannot break down bilirubin, a yellow substance created when red blood cells are broken down and recycled.
About 100 million adults in the United States suffer from some type of liver disease, according to the American Liver Foundation, while liver cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, behind 26,000 deaths from anus.
Randy Moss wears sunglasses at NFL Countdown due to ‘internal’ health issue
In most cases, liver cirrhosis or liver damage is reversible; Doctors say that people’s health can improve the condition within a month.
But in more serious cases, such as liver cancer, doctors say someone is less likely to make a full recovery.
In severe cases, a person may require a liver transplant.
Dr. Dello Russo added: “If it’s hepatitis, we have a cure for it, so you can get better and get over it quickly, within a month.”
“Surprisingly, the liver can be cured with medical treatment, which can reverse the cause of yellowing eyes.”
Hepatitis B and C are viruses that can infect the liver and can be contracted through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person.
This can occur by sharing personal items with an infected person, such as razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers, and using unsterilized tattoo equipment.
Hepatitis B can be prevented by a vaccine, usually given at birth, that is 80 to 100 percent effective in preventing infection. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but doctors say avoiding exposure to infected body fluids can limit the risks.
Dr. Dello Russo also said Moss could be infected with hepatitis A or D, which are also viruses that affect the liver.
Hepatitis A is spread through contact with contaminated food or water or with an infected person and often causes mild symptoms including jaundice, nausea and vomiting.
Hepatitis D is transmitted in a similar way, but only causes an infection if there is also a hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis A can also be prevented by a vaccine, which is given between 12 and 23 months of age and is more than 95 percent effective in preventing infection.
People of black ethnicity are more likely to have hepatitis than those of white ethnicity, CDC research suggests, and they are also less likely to be vaccinated against the virus.
Overall, the CDC found that while 48.4 percent of white adults had been vaccinated against hepatitis B among black adults, this figure dropped to 34.3 percent.
There is no evidence to suggest that Moss did not receive any of the CDC-recommended vaccines.
Dr. Dello Russo also suggested that Moss may have suffered from gallstones, which can cause jaundice.
These form in the gallbladder, located just below the liver and which stores and releases bile to help digest food, and can block the tubes leaving the organ, causing the condition.
More than one million Americans are diagnosed with gallstones each year, and factors such as eating a low-fiber diet, having a family history of gallstones, and drinking too little water increase the risk.
However, studies suggest that the condition is more common among women and people aged 40 and older. It is also suggested that people who are overweight, sedentary, or eat a high-fat diet are at greater risk.
Another cause of jaundice can be nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition in which fat builds up in the liver due to poor diet and little exercise.
100 million Americans suffer from it each year, but it tends to be present in those who are overweight or obese.