Being the primary detoxification organ in the body, the liver transforms toxins into waste material and then eliminates them from the body through a variety of different pathways.
Additionally, the liver rids the blood of any noxious materials. It removes excess glucose and stores it in the form of glycogen. The liver produces bile that aids in the breakdown of fat. It carries out more than 500 different bodily tasks, including storing essential nutrients.
If the liver function is compromised, you can see below effects on the body
- Blood pressure worsens.
- Rapid Increase in Diabetes
- Digestion weakens
- Immune system Weakens
The effect of this is seen in the form of skin problems, belly fat, body pains, tiredness, and other hormonal issues.
The primary issue is that there are very few symptoms in the early stages of liver breakdown, and by the time they emerge, at least 70% of the liver has already been destroyed. Fortunately, the liver may regenerate to its usual size even after 90% of it has been removed.
5 Early Warning Liver Disease Symptoms
Here are 5 Early Warning Liver Disease Symptoms
- Diagnose the condition of your liver through your feet
- Feces and urine color can reveal information about the condition of your liver
- Liver Pain
- Body Discoloration
- Fluid Retention
Let’s discuss the 5 Early Warning Liver Disease Symptoms in detail-
1- Diagnose the condition of your liver through your feet
The liver has a strong connection with the feet. If there are red and brown dots on the lower leg, it can be a sign of a liver problem. This is usually caused by poor circulation, but it can also be caused by liver problems in most cases.
Varicose veins, also known as spider veins (red and blue-colored veins), are another problem that can appear on the legs. This symptom can be seen in the case of liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis is the third stage of liver damage. It starts as a fatty liver and progresses to liver fibrosis, which is an inflamed but treatable liver. Eventually, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer are caused by the liver.
Apart from these cracked heels can also be an early sign of liver disease. As we know the liver produces bile which digests the fatty acid but when the liver isn’t able to produce enough bile then the fats don’t get absorbed well and as a result, dryness causes feet to crack.
In addition, these broken heels may be a warning indication of liver disease. As is generally known, the liver secretes bile, which breaks down fatty acids. However, insufficient bile production by the liver can lead to poor fat absorption and, ultimately, dry feet.
Apart from the upper liver disease symptoms, there are four additional symptoms.
- Itching around the base of the foot indicates that the liver is clogged with toxins and cannot adequately filter blood.
- A sign of too much heat in the liver is hot feet.
- Foot discomfort and pain
- Bad-smelling feet indicate a liver that isn’t capable of detoxifying
2- Feces and urine color can reveal information about the condition of your liver
As is well known, the liver transforms poisons into waste products that are expelled through sweat, feces, and urine. For this reason, stool and urine are regarded as two crucial markers of liver health. Your pee should ideally be clear or pale yellow in color. However, one should initially treat dark urine as an indication of dehydration. If you drink more water, you can reverse it, but if it persists for many days, there may be a liver issue. because the liver isn’t processing bilirubin properly, causing an excessive amount of it to accumulate. This symptom appears in 25% of liver cirrhosis patients.
Bile gives stool its perfect golden hue, but when the liver doesn’t generate enough bile, the color of the stool might become pale. This is an early sign of liver disease. Stools may become dark and tarry, signifying internal bleeding, if left untreated. If this continues for a few days, it is an advanced stage and should not be disregarded.
Recall that some meals can occasionally affect the color of your stools as well.
3- Liver Pain
If a person feels discomfort below the rib cage on the upper right side of the abdomen (where the liver is located), then this could be alarming. Although there are no pain-sensing neurons in the liver, discomfort is typically caused by inflammation in the tissues around the liver.
Note – More than 80% of the people with liver Cirrhosis report this pain(Pulsating sensation).
This Pulsating sensation is mainly reported in the abdominal area but sometimes it can move to the neck and the right shoulder. This pain can be due to gas but it persists more often than it should be taken seriously.
Though the liver doesn’t actually contain any nerves that sense pain, the pain is usually the result of inflammation in the surrounding tissues.
Note – More than 80% of the people with liver Cirrhosis report this pain(Pulsating sensation).
This Pulsating sensation is mainly reported in the abdominal area but sometimes it can move to the neck and the right shoulder. This pain can be due to gas but it persists more often than it should be taken seriously. This type of pain might occur at various phases of liver problems. It could be the result of excessive drinking, hepatitis, or fatty liver disease.
4- Body Discoloration
Another liver disease symptom is discoloration, It could be a change in skin color to yellow, nails turning to yellow, and yellowing of eyes. This discoloration happens when the liver is not able to get rid of excess bilirubin and the body is unable to flush out the toxins.
Research shows that 66% of patients with liver cirrhosis face reddening of their palms.
A necklace-like line of black pigmentation (which might be moles, warts, or patches) on the front or back of the neck is almost certainly indicative of liver dysfunction.
If you see any discolourisation on your body then be proactive to act on them.
5- Fluid Retention
According to liver medical consultants, the accumulation of fluid in the belly and edema in the legs are two indicators of liver issues. Consequently, the risk of liver disease is increased in those who are skinny and have a projecting abdomen. A liver-produced protein called Albumin is responsible for controlling swelling in the body. When the liver is not working properly, the production of albumin reduces, which results in the belly coming out.
This problem can be quickly fixed by steering clear of unhealthy foods (junk foods) and cutting down on the intake of carbs and salt in your meals. If not addressed, it can lead to pitted edema (a severe form of liver cirrhosis).
Note:- Pitted Edema occurs when pressure is applied to the swollen area, creating a visible indentation. This dent can be repaired and returned to its normal state in just a few seconds. This liver disease symptom can also happen due to kidney problems. Consult the Medical professional when you see this kind of symptom.
Some of these symptoms can also appear in cases of diabetes and kidney problems because all of these organs are interconnected in various ways. If you experience two or more symptoms persistently for 5 days or longer, seek medical advice right away.
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