How your feet can indicate liver problems

Your liver is an integral part of your body that helps perform a wide range of functions. It helps detoxify the body by removing harmful substances from the bloodstream, metabolizes drugs and other chemicals, regulates blood sugar levels by producing and storing glucose, produces bile which helps to digest fats and absorb fat-soluble vitamins, and regulates blood cholesterol levels. This is why when the liver goes bad, it can cause several health complications.

However, liver problems can be both symptomatic and asymptomatic. Fatty liver disease for instance may not cause any noticeable symptoms in the early stages. But as the illness progresses, certain health issues may start to arise. To be more specific, beware of these signs in your feet.

Swelling and pain in your foot

Foot pain can be a common sign of a liver disease. When the liver stops functioning properly, it causes excess fluid and toxins build up in the lower 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.

Itchy feet

Itchy feet can be a symptom of liver disease, particularly cholestatic liver diseases 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 build-up of bile in the body. This build-up can cause intense itching, especially on the hands and feet.

Beware of numbness or a tingling sensation

A hepatitis C infection or alcoholic liver disease can lead to symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the feet. The condition is also known as paresthesia. 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 of the common symptoms of liver disease include:

- Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice)

- Abdominal pain and swelling

- Itchy skin

- Dark urine color

- Pale coloured stool

- Chronic fatigue

- Nausea or vomitin

How to reduce your risk of liver disease?

The health body recommends drinking alcohol in moderation, quitting smoking, eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, using medications wisely and avoiding risky behaviors like using a condom during sex, following proper hygiene and not sharing needles to inject drugs.

Furthermore, if you're at increased risk of contracting hepatitis or if you've already been infected with any form of the hepatitis virus, the Mayo Clinic recommends getting vaccinated.