The liver is one of the most vital organs in the body, responsible for detoxification, digestion, and protein synthesis. There are visible signs that can help detect liver damage early on if you pay attention to your body. Here are 10 tell-tale signs to look out for regarding your liver health.
1. White lines appear on your nails
If you notice horizontal white lines across your nails, especially if they don’t grow out with the nail, it could indicate Muehrcke’s lines, associated with low albumin levels in the blood, common in cirrhosis or hepatitis patients. Interestingly, these lines fade when you press on the nail and reappear when you release it.
2. Nails become pale (Terry’s nails)
Typically, healthy nails have a slight pink hue due to the rich blood flow underneath. However, in people with liver disease, the nails may turn stark white, known as Terry’s nails. This indicates low protein levels in the blood, especially albumin, which the liver produces. This sign often accompanies chronic liver diseases like cirrhosis.
3. Fingers become drumstick-shaped
When the fingers or toes become abnormally enlarged and round, with curved nails, it’s called drumstick fingers. This condition indicates chronic oxygen deprivation and is common in people with lung, cardiovascular, and liver diseases, especially cirrhosis patients.
4. Abdominal swelling due to ascites
Ascites is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, causing the stomach area to swell. It is primarily caused by increased pressure in the portal vein and reduced albumin production, both typical consequences of cirrhosis. If you experience rapid abdominal expansion and feel a tense but soft abdomen, consider liver damage.
5. Spider-like veins appear around the navel
This is a sign of spider angioma, a classic indication of increased portal vein pressure. Small veins around the navel enlarge and become visible under the skin like a spider web, radiating outward from the navel. This sign is typical in people with advanced cirrhosis.
6. Palms turn reddish
If you notice a bright red discoloration at the base of the thumb and little finger, it could be palmar erythema. This condition usually occurs due to elevated estrogen levels when the liver fails to metabolize hormones normally. It may also occur during pregnancy, but if you’re not pregnant, it’s a good idea to check your liver function.
7. Spider angiomas appear on the skin
Spider angiomas are red spots with small blood vessels radiating from the center, commonly found on the face, neck, and upper chest. When pressed, they temporarily disappear and then reappear. Spider angiomas are prevalent in people with cirrhosis due to hormonal imbalances and liver dysfunction.
8. Difficulty in voluntary limb control
Hepatic encephalopathy is a neurological disorder caused by the liver’s inability to remove toxins from the blood, resulting in ammonia accumulation in the brain. Patients with this condition often experience tremors, confusion, and loss of motor control. A simple test is to ask the person to perform a wall push gesture; if they cannot do it accurately, it could be a warning sign.
9. Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
Jaundice is a classic and easily recognizable sign. When the liver fails to metabolize bilirubin, a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown, it accumulates in the blood, tinting the skin and eye conjunctiva yellow. This condition is not limited to acute hepatitis but is also prevalent in cirrhosis patients.
10. Easy bruising and prolonged bleeding
The liver plays a crucial role in producing blood-clotting factors. When the liver is damaged, clotting ability decreases, making bruising more frequent, even from minor impacts. Additionally, platelet counts in the blood decrease, causing wounds to bleed longer and take longer to heal.
