While we often care about weight, blood pressure or diet, delicate signals from the hands are easily overlooked.
Dr Narander Singla, an internist at CK Birla Hospital (Delhi) shared on indianexpress that the hands can reveal early signs of fatty liver disease, a disease that is increasingly common in all ages, including those who do not drink alcohol.
Warning signs from the hands
One of the typical signs is redness of the palms, which is an abnormal condition of the palms. This is a manifestation of impaired blood circulation and hormonal imbalance, when liver function begins to weaken. In addition, other manifestations include:
- Itchy skin, especially on the hands, due to the buildup of bile salts.
- Dry skin, prone to bruising due to nutrient deficiency.
- A shooting vessel ( spider angioma) is a small blood vessel that floats clearly on the hands, arms or face.
Empty thumbs, large fingertips due to reduced oxygen in the blood
These symptoms seem unrelated, but are all consequences of the liver being overloaded with fat and decreasing the ability to regulate hormones and filter toxins, says Dr. Singla.
Causes and subjects at risk
Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) currently accounts for 85% of fatty liver cases, mainly due to metabolic disorders, obesity, diabetes and unhealthy living habits. Even people who do not drink alcohol can get sick if there are risk factors such as:
- Obesity or being overweight.
- Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol.
- Lack of exercise, unscientific eating.
According to the latest data, up to 65% of screening participants had fatty liver to some extent, mostly due to modern lifestyle.
Timely actions to protect the liver
When detecting signs on the hand, the patient should not panic, but need to see a doctor early for a blood or liver ultrasound test. Timely intervention through lifestyle changes can reverse the disease's course:
- Lose weight by 5-10% of weight.
- Eat healthy: rich in fiber, vegetables, limit sugar and processed foods.
- Avoid alcohol completely.
- Exercise regularly to increase insulin sensitivity.
- Control your cholesterol, stay hydrated, and avoid unnecessary medications.
Fatty liver is often not noticeable in the early stages, but the body, especially the hands, always has a way to speak. Don't miss these valuable signals to protect your own liver health.
