How Can I Confirm My Suspicions?
If you have a family history or risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease – including obesity, thyroid dysfunction, high cholesterol, and others – or if you are a regular drinker, you should evaluate yourself for other telling signs of liver disease, which can include:
- swollen abdomen (beer belly)
- prominent, visible veins on the torso or abdomen
- chronic fatigue
- pain in the upper right abdomen
- bruising easily
- loss of appetite/weight loss
- swelling in the legs (edema)
If you have any combination of these symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss the symptoms and possible causes. You can request liver function tests, which may check your billirubin and liver enzyme levels.
If you don’t have these additional symptoms, and especially if your hands become painful, your red palms may be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis. Speak with your doctor to rule out or confirm a diagnosis.