Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Liver Disease: 5 things you can do to prevent it

For Fibronostics

If you are like most people you probably rarely think about liver disease. With all the attention on cancer and heart disease it is little wonder few people know that there more than 100 diseases of the liver.

One of them, hepatitis B, is 100 times more infectious than HIV and is the second leading cause of cancer worldwide according to the World Health Organization. (published site)


March is “Liver Health Month” and the Canadian Liver Foundation wants you to know that liver disease is a huge problem, it is growing in prevalence, and doctors rarely test for it. The CLF statistics show that liver diseases have gone from affecting 1 in 10 Canadians to 1 in 4 in just the last 10 years, and that 7 million Canadians have non-fatty liver disease (NFLD) the most common liver disease in Canada.

The American Liver Foundation is also concerned that few know how prevalent liver disease is. The ALF estimates 30 million Americans have one form or another of liver disease, while 75 percent of Americans with hepatitis B and C don’t even know it.

When most people do think of liver disease, they think of cirrhosis caused by alcohol, but far more cirrhosis is caused by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is on the rise with the obesity epidemic. The CLF estimates that 23 percent of obese Canadians are at risk of developing serious liver damage that can result in cirrhosis.

The liver is the largest internal organ in the body located in the right upper part of the abdomen and stretches across the abdomen under the diaphragm. The CLF calls the liver the body’s engine. It performs a lot of key tasks to keep your body running smoothly. It regulates your body’s fuel, cleanses your body of alcohol, drugs and chemicals, it regulates hormones involved in sex and metabolism. It adjusts cholesterol levels, controls vitamins and minerals and performs dozens of other functions.

The CLF wants Canadians to know that much of the rise in liver diseases can be prevented with lifestyle changes.

Here are 5 things the CLF says can keep your “engine” running smoothly:

1) Premium fuel – maintain a healthy diet limiting saturated fats and sugars. Avoid deep-fried foods, salty and sugary snacks and soft drinks.

2) Lose the spare tire – obesity can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

3) Avoid contaminants – the liver has to filter out all the contaminants that enter the body.

Quit smoking, cut alcohol consumption, be careful with prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose is the leading cause of acute liver failure.

4) Preventative maintenance – get immunized against hepatitis A and B, practice safe sex, never share razors, toothbrushes or needles.

5) Pay attention to warning lights – know the signs of liver disease. Unexplained flu-like symptoms, fatigue, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice are signs you should ask your doctor if you need a liver function test.

Prevention is the best way to ensure your liver is functioning at its best and be sure to see your doctor for regular checkups. Ask your doctor for a liver test. For more information check out the Canadian Liver Foundation website.

Knowing your liver is healthy can save your life and a diagnostic test can provide you with a ‘score’ that indicates your level of liver injury and stage of liver disease.

Luckily, LiverFASt™ is a simple, non-invasive, and less expensive solution for liver health evaluations.

Sign up today for free resources on your liver health and to get content like this sent right to you

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