9 surprising warning signs from the liver
The liver has a lot of work to do to keep you healthy. It is one of the largest organs in the body. When the liver is in trouble, it sends out warning signals.
1. Itching a lot
Primary biliary cholangitis—a chronic disease that destroys the bile ducts in the liver—often has no noticeable symptoms, but a common early sign is itching. It may just be dry skin, but if it becomes too frequent, it may be worth checking in with your doctor—especially since itching is also a sign of cirrhosis.
2. Gain a lot of weight
If you suddenly gain weight for no apparent reason, your liver could be the culprit. It could be a sign of cirrhosis, a disease that slowly replaces liver tissue with scar tissue, blocking blood flow through the liver and preventing the organ from functioning properly.
3. Red palms
Another red flag is if your palms suddenly turn red for no apparent reason. This could be non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition that occurs when too much fat builds up in liver cells in people who drink little or no alcohol at all.
4. Memory loss
Forgetting where you put your car keys is one thing, but if your memory has been waning lately, there may be a reason. When the liver fails, it can't remove toxins from the blood, and they build up in the brain—a condition called hepatic encephalopathy. One of the consequences is memory loss.
5. Gynecomastia
One of the most shocking warning signs of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is gynecomastia. It’s a puzzling phenomenon, but there is an explanation: it’s thought that the excessive growth of breast tissue – or gynecomastia – is caused by an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone.
6. Easy bruising
As you age, your body may start to bruise more easily because your skin becomes thinner. However, if there is really no explanation for why you have a lot of bruises on your body, it may mean you should consider liver disease.
7. Swollen feet and ankles
Liver disease can be caused by everything from alcohol use to obesity, and a common warning sign is swelling in your legs and ankles. If you have swelling and you’re not sure why, it’s important to see your doctor to make sure it’s not something serious.
8. Always feel cold
Do you always feel cold no matter how many blankets you cover yourself with? That could be a sign of cholestasis, which occurs when the flow of bile is reduced or stopped completely.
9. Dry eyes or dry mouth
There are many different reasons for dry eyes or dry mouth – from age to medications – but one culprit could be much more serious. Primary biliary cholangitis is known to cause this problem, but thankfully it is an early symptom of a chronic condition.
