A person’s hands can reflect the state of their health, from nails to itchiness and even color changes.
By Jessica Knibbs
Too much fat in the liver may cause inflammation and scarring, which can cause cirrhosis, preventing this hardworking organ from doing its job.
Liver failure can affect many of your body’s organs.
Acute liver failure can cause such complications as infection, electrolyte deficiencies and bleeding.
Without treatment, both acute and chronic liver failure may eventually result in death.
Liver disease diagnoses are on the rise due to an increasingly unhealthy lifestyle.
It’s important to be aware of the less common signs of a failing liver diseases – including one occurring on your hands.
Experts warn that if suffering with red palms it could be an early indication of fatty liver disease.
Symptoms of fatty liver disease
According to WebMD, signs of fatty liver disease may include:
Swollen belly
Enlarged blood vessels underneath your skin
Larger-than-normal breasts in men
Red palms
Skin and eyes that appear yellowish, due to a condition called jaundice.
Palms turning red may be due to the dilation of capillaries which are the smallest blood vessels in the body.
How red they become varies as per how severe the underlying disease may be.
Some health experts believe this redness may be caused by increased hormone levels and can often be hereditary.
However, prolonged red palms could be a serious warning of fatty liver disease.
DermNet NZ explained: “Palmar erythema is redness involving the heel of the palm, and occasionally the fingers.”
The condition is symmetrical, meaning that it will affect both hands.
While the palms could be slightly warm, it will not be itchy or painful.
What is palmar erythema?
Palmar erythema is a symptom of many different conditions.
“Its appearance is often the first sign of an underlying medical concern,” says Healthline.
“For example, palmar erythema is associated with several forms of liver disease.”
According to the health site, roughly, “23% of people who have cirrhosis of the liver also experience palmar erythema.”
What is cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by long-term liver damage.
According to the NHS: “Common causes of cirrhosis include drinking too much alcohol, a long-term liver infection such as hepatitis B or C, and being obese.
“Treatment for cirrhosis usually involves treating the cause, to stop it getting worse.
“Some people eventually need a liver transplant.”
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Courtesy: Mirror, UK
