Posted by Fatima Khalil
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:00 AM
The liver is an integral part of your body and assists in performing a wide range of functions toxins from the body by removing harmful substances from the bloodstream, metabolizing drugs and other chemicals, regulating blood sugar levels by producing and storing glucose, producing bile that helps digest fats and absorb fat-soluble vitamins, and regulating cholesterol levels. Liver problems are episodic and asymptomatic. Fatty liver disease, for example, may not cause any noticeable symptoms in the early stages, but as the disease progresses, some health problems may start to appear.
In this report, we learn about signs in your feet that could indicate a liver problem, according to the “Times of India” website.
Signs in your feet could indicate a problem with your liver
1- Swelling and pain in your feet
Foot pain can be a common sign of liver disease. When the liver stops working properly, it causes fluid and toxins to build up in the lower part of the body, leading to peripheral edema.
In addition, some liver diseases, such as cirrhosis, can also cause a condition called portal hypertension, which can lead to the formation of varicose veins in the legs and feet, which can cause pain.
2- Itchy feet
Itchy feet can be a symptom of liver disease, especially biliary hepatitis such as primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).
These conditions cause the bile ducts in the liver to become blocked or damaged, which can lead to a buildup of bile in the body. This buildup can cause severe itching, especially of the hands and feet.
3- Beware of numbness or tingling sensation
Hepatitis C infection or alcoholic liver disease can lead to symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the feet.
While this condition is not common with liver problems, in some cases, liver disease can cause peripheral neuropathy, a condition that affects the nerves that travel to the extremities, such as the hands and feet.
Other symptoms of liver problems
According to the Mayo Clinic, some common symptoms of liver disease include:
Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
Abdominal pain and bloating
Itchy skin
Dark urine colour
Chronic fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
How to reduce the risk of liver disease?
Quit smoking, eat healthy, maintain a healthy weight, use medications wisely and follow proper hygiene.
Furthermore, if you are at increased risk of getting hepatitis or if you are already infected with any form of hepatitis virus you should get vaccinated.