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1. Farewell to Glen: A Tribute to a Life Well-Lived 2. Have You Tried Wall Sits? 3. The Benefits of Vitamin B12 Bell Pepper Sandwich 4. Skin Signals of Liver Disease You Can’t Ignore INSIDE THIS ISSUE
WHAT YOUR SKIN SAYS ABOUT YOUR LIVER HEALTH
You can’t live without your liver. Livers help clean blood, ensuring your body is free from toxins. It also produces bile, an acid that digests waste. Unfortunately, livers can be damaged in a myriad of ways. Catching liver disease early allows doctors to treat it quickly, so it’s crucial to check for any symptoms of liver problems, especially if you are at risk. Yellow Skin Commonly called “jaundice,” a yellowing of the skin and eyes is a telltale sign of liver disease. The liver’s inability to filter out bilirubin causes this unseemly syndrome. This important yellow substance is made during the breakdown of blood cells and used by the body to help digest food. A healthy, functioning liver filters out most bilirubin. Itching Besides jaundice, a common symptom of bilirubin buildup is itchy skin. Bilirubin
creates “bile salts” that are deposited into the skin. The result is intense itchiness. Note that itching can be from a variety of causes, including allergies. Spider Angioma These superficial red marks appear like a mass of tendrils centering around one point and look like a spider. While they are relatively common, an excess of spider angioma can indicate liver problems. Having three or more at a time can be a sign of a more significant issue, including hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or cirrhosis.
Easy Bruising Clotting proteins, which help the body repair injuries, are produced in the liver. If the liver is diseased or damaged, it may produce fewer proteins. In addition, liver disease lowers the amount of blood platelets. This also can cause easy bruising. Everyone needs their liver to live, so protect the health of your liver. Drinking in moderation, taking vitamin B, and getting regular exercise can promote a healthy liver.
Red Palms Rashy red palms — or palmer erythema — can point to many
problems. Excess estrogen causes this symptom, so hormonal changes are often the culprit. Nonetheless, liver disease makes it difficult for the body to break down estrogen.
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