The liver performs more than 500 functions in the body, divided into four groups: digestion, blood filtration, immune support, and blood clotting. However, liver damage will prevent this organ from performing enough biological functions for the body, according to the health website Prevention .
In addition to swollen legs, liver damage also causes jaundice, vomiting and many other symptoms.
Warning signs of liver disease can appear in the legs. When the liver is damaged and fails to function, excess fluid and toxins accumulate in the legs, leading to a condition called peripheral edema. This condition is accompanied by pain and inflammation in the feet. Without prompt diagnosis and intervention, further liver damage and scarring can occur, leading to cirrhosis.
Peripheral edema is common in older adults and pregnant women, occurring in one or both legs. However, anyone at any age can develop this condition. Therefore, if you suddenly notice swelling and pain in your legs, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Warning signs of peripheral edema include swelling of the legs, a feeling of heaviness in the legs, pain, stiffness, bruising or discoloration of the skin after impact. In addition, the patient may have difficulty walking due to swelling in the legs, difficulty putting on socks or shoes.
In addition to leg problems, people with liver disease also have other symptoms such as loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping or memory problems. Loss of appetite is due to the liver's digestive and blood filtering functions being significantly impaired, leading to increased levels of toxins in the blood, causing nausea and decreased appetite. In addition, hunger-controlling hormones such as leptin and ghrelin are imbalanced, causing loss of appetite.
Patients may also have insomnia because liver damage alters the hormone melatonin. Because toxins cannot be removed from the blood, these toxins will affect the nervous system, impairing brain function and memory.
In addition, it is important to note that some people have liver disease but do not have any symptoms because it is in the early stages. Meanwhile, many others, in addition to swollen legs, also have jaundice, weakness, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, skin rashes and some other symptoms, according to Prevention .
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