- Signs of liver damage may reveal a foot-liver connection
- What are causes and symptoms of liver damage
- Can liver damage be treated or reversed
Medical researchers reveal, your feet can tell you a lot about the state of your health overall. There’s even a shocking link between your feet and liver — a foot-liver connection — that can uncover signs of liver damage.
BY: GUY JABBAR
According to studies, the liver is an organ about the size of a football. It sits just under your rib cage on the right side of your abdomen. The liver’s main function is for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances.
What causes liver damage?
Liver problems can be caused by a variety of factors, such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity.
Over time, conditions that damage the liver can lead to scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.
However, if it’s discovered early enough, treatment may give the liver time to heal.
What are symptoms of liver damage?
According to leading medical doctors, they reveal 12 Warning Signs Your Feet Tell You Your Liver’s In Trouble.
- Dots – (Red, Purple, Brown) dots on your lower leg can indicate liver damage, as well as diabetes.
- Burning Sensation – If your feet feel very hot (hot feet), this can be a sign of a fatty liver. Inflammation will occur as a way for your body to fight off infection.
- Spider Veins (angioma) – There are two instances where this will happen, liver damage or pregnancy. These small, enlarged blood vessels cluster together on the surface of your skin and are often a sign of liver disease.
- Discoloration – Liver disease can show up through yellow discoloration on your feet known as jaundice. This might be your body telling you that you have cirrhosis or hepatitis.
- Chronic pain – Liver disease will cause you to feel terrible pain in your feet. It sometimes gets to the point where you can’t walk properly. The swelling – along with your foot pain, you will notice your feet starting to swell. This is known as edema.
- Pitting Edema – A type of swelling that occurs when excess fluid accumulates in the tissues under the skin. It usually appears as a dimple or indentation that remains after pressing on the swollen area for a few seconds. It can be a sign of a serious health issue that affects the circulation of blood or fluid in the body.
What you should know: Edema is a condition where excess fluid accumulates in the body tissues, causing swelling and discomfort. It can affect any part of the body, but it is more common in the legs, feet, arms, or hands.
- Cracked Skin – Cracked and dry skin can point to several health conditions, including the lack of vitamins. In the case of your liver, you are likely missing Omega 3 Fatty Acids — found in certain fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, cod, herring and more. It also could be found in seeds, and nuts.
- Bad Odor – Foot odor can be caused by many different things including your liver’s inability to detoxify. So, when the organ can’t detoxify correctly, it goes through the skin.
- Itchiness – Although less common, itching of the skin, also known as pruritus, could mean there is a buildup of fluids in the liver. When the liver is congested, it causes sensitive areas to become irritated.
- Gout – A type of arthritis that causes swelling of joints due to excess uric acid. It usually affects the big toe.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Uric acid is a pollutant that your body normally gets rid of through urine and stool.
The symptoms of gout include sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in one or more joints, most often in the big toe — feeling a sensation that your big toe is on fire.
- Toenail Fungus – A fungal infection that occurs in the edge of the nail. Symptoms of nail fungus include a nail or nails that are thickened, discolored, brittle, crumbly or ragged, misshapen and separated from the nail bed.
- Fluid Retention – One of the early signs and symptoms of liver damage is fluid retention, especially in the ankles and feet.
This is similar to ascites except the fluid is building up in the outer tissues in the lower extremities.
NOTE: Ascites is a buildup of fluid in your abdomen. It often occurs as a result of cirrhosis (liver disease).
The main symptoms of ascites are a large belly and rapid weight gain. Other symptoms include:
- Ankle swelling
- Shortness of breath
- Digestive issues/bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Appetite loss
- Indigestion and constipation
- Back pain
- Difficulty sitting
- Fatigue
However, there are many other causes of fluid retention, including kidney problems, hormonal imbalances, heart failure and lymphatic disease. You should always see your doctor in order to find out the cause of it.
Can liver damage be reversed?
The liver is an incredible organ that can repair and even regenerate itself. Early diagnosis may prevent damage from occurring in your liver.
Because of this, damage from liver disease can often be reversed with a well-managed treatment plan, according to medical reports.
However, if the harm is extreme, it may not be reversible, and a liver transplant may be required to repair the damage. Here are some things to avoid to support a healthy liver:
- Certain medications
- Sugar and refined carbs
- Cooked and canned foods
- Corn
- Junk food
- Alcohol usage
Bottom Line
Liver damage can be caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver. In fact, most people suffering with liver disease do not look or feel sick even though damage is happening to their liver.
It happens over time, the damaged liver is usually followed by scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.
At a certain point in the progression of liver disease damage can become irreversible and lead to liver failure, liver cancer, or unfortunately, even death.
However, on a lighter note, damage from liver disease can often be reversed with a well-managed treatment plan by a medical professional. This early treatment may give the liver time to heal.
When to see a doctor: Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you. Seek immediate medical attention if you have abdominal pain that is so severe that you can’t stay still. If you are experiencing any symptoms of liver damage or have concerns about your liver health, it is important to speak with your doctor. They can help you determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment options.
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