Better know! Itchy feet may be a sign of 3 serious health problems, not just diabetes.
Did you know? Itchy feet can be a sign of a number of health problems, including liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.
While it’s normal to experience occasional itching due to harmless factors like dry weather or insect bites, persistent itching could indicate a more serious problem.
Feet are particularly prone to itching, warn experts from Healthline, emphasizing that the condition can be a sign of more serious conditions, such as liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.
Liver disease
Liver disease can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption or a build-up of fat in the liver, and is a serious condition that can be fatal if left untreated. Itching is a common symptom of liver disease, according to the British Liver Foundation.
“You can feel itchy anywhere on your body, but it’s most common on your arms, legs, palms, or soles. Some people can feel itchy all over their หากคุณสนใจเล่นพนันออนไลน์ที่ดีที่สุด สามารถสมัครสมาชิก UFABET ได้ที่นี่ พร้อมรับโปรโมชั่นพิเศษสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ body. Itching from liver disease can range from mild to debilitating.”
He further explained that if itching is related to the liver, there will be no obvious skin rash or insect bites. However, continuous scratching can damage the skin. In addition, the severity of the itching tends to increase as the disease progresses.
“You may notice that your symptoms are worse when you’re in hot weather, such as taking a hot shower at night, or when you wear certain clothing,” the report says. The exact cause of liver disease’s itching isn’t clear, but it’s thought to involve factors such as a buildup of bile salts in the bloodstream and changes in blood chemistry caused by the disease.
Other symptoms of liver disease include chronic fatigue, loss of appetite leading to weight loss, decreased sexual drive, jaundice, and nausea.
Diabetes
The website Diabetes.co.uk highlights that itchy feet, legs and ankles are a common symptom of diabetes, stating that “itchy skin can be a sign of diabetes, especially if other diabetes symptoms are present.”
The website explains that prolonged high blood sugar levels can cause itchy skin, which is sometimes caused by complications related to diabetes, such as nerve damage or kidney disease.
Additional important indicators of diabetes to watch for include excessive thirst, frequent urination, especially at night, extreme fatigue, weight loss and muscle loss, persistent genital itching or vaginal yeast infection, and blurred vision.
Kidney disease
Itching is a “very common” symptom in people with kidney disease, with around half of people with severe kidney problems experiencing it, and it can get worse as the condition progresses. “You may find that itching gets worse as your kidney function worsens,” the charity Kidney Care UK says.
Factors such as dry skin, high temperatures, inadequate dialysis, or high blood calcium levels can also be factors that cause itching in people with kidney disease.
Other warning signs of kidney disease include weight loss and loss of appetite, swelling of the limbs due to fluid retention, rapid breathing, fatigue, blood in the urine, frequent urination at night, insomnia, cramps, nausea, headaches, and erectile dysfunction in men. Therefore, anyone who notices these symptoms should see a doctor immediately.