Our liver is one of the most important organs in the body, and we must take the necessary steps to prevent its damage.
When the liver is damaged, it cannot perform its functions, which can eventually have an adverse impact on the entire body. However, if we can spot liver damage in the early stages, necessary steps can be taken to prevent further damage.
The first step is to spot the symptoms of liver damage. The signs of the condition can be seen in different parts of the body, including our feet, which can be affected by liver diseases. One can get clues by looking at certain body parts, especially the feet.
Functions of the Liver in the body
The liver is a critical organ in the human body, responsible for an array of functions that help support immunity, metabolism, detoxification, digestion, and vitamin storage.
Here are some signs of liver damage that you can spot on your feet
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Red and brown spots: This is a common symptom seen in people with diabetes. However, if someone has cirrhosis, hepatitis, or even a severe fatty liver due to bad circulation in the lower part of the body, those little red or rust brown-colored scaly dots or pigments may appear. The liver has a lot to do with clotting factors and vitamin K, and when we lose liver function, we may have boils that appear like bruises or discolored spots in different parts of our body, especially our feet.
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Toenail issues: Another sign of liver damage that may appear on the feet is toenail issues. Five toenail issues, such as dystrophic nails, onychorrhexis onychomycosis, leukonychia, and a club nail, may surface in cases of liver damage.
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Spider veins: The formation of spider veins in the lower ankle or elsewhere in the body may indicate liver damage or liver disease. Spider vein is a situation where the liver can no longer regulate estrogen, so we have this unregulated excessive amount of estrogen that floats around the body. Estrogen tends to vasodilate and create this vascular pooling effect of blood. The problem with having this extra estrogen is that it can damage the liver and create things like fatty liver and problems with the bile duct, which could lead to um gallstones.
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Itchy feet: Itchy feet may happen because the bile produced by the liver may be thicker than required. The bile then backs up into the liver and then back into the blood. From the blood, it backs into the tissues and can show up as itching. Itchy feet can drive people crazy, especially at night.
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Dry, cracked heels: An individual with omega-3 deficiency tends to get dry and cracked heels. The liver makes bile, which helps break down and absorb fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids in the body. However, with poor liver function, the human body does not produce the amount of bile that is needed to extract the omega-3 fatty acids.
Since the liver is an important organ, one must ensure that it is taken care of. Here are some tips to ensure that our liver is healthy.
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Cut down on highly processed foods and drinks (sweets, soft drinks, pizza and chips) and foods that have a lot of sugar.
- Exercise and eat right.
- Maintain a healthy weight
- look after high blood pressure and cholesterol.
In case one experiences these signs it is best to consult a doctor without delay.
