Keep Liver Healthy

Vinod C. Dixit

As usual, this year’s April 19th was observed as World Liver Day to spread awareness about liver-related diseases. The liver is the second largest and the most complex organ in the body, with the exception of the brain. It is a key player in your body’s digestive system.

Everything we eat or drink, including medicine, passes through the liver. It fights infections, regulates blood sugar, removes toxins, controls cholesterol, makes proteins and releases bile to help digestion. We cannot survive without the liver, and it can be easily damaged if we don’t take proper care of it. 

Liver diseases can be caused by Hepatitis A, B, C, alcohol, and drugs. Viral Hepatitis occurs due to consumption of contaminated food and water, unsafe sexual practices, and drug abuse. Dr. Arvind Sahni, Director, Gastroenterology, Fortis Hospital Mohali, says, “Liver cancer today is the fifth most common cancer claiming millions of lives annually.” 

However, recent developments in diagnosis and treatment have helped to cure many patients. Remaining vigilant and getting health check-ups done regularly can help in the early detection of liver cancer. A second factor to remember is that liver cancer occurs almost always in diseased livers. It is vital for everyone to get Hepatitis B and C screened regularly and adopt a healthy lifestyle. 

Alcoholic Liver Disease is a common liver disease. One may catch this ailment after consuming too much alcohol. If you overload your liver by drinking a lot of alcohol, the excess alcohol would end up circulating in your blood. This, in turn, affects our organs like the brain and heart, leading to increased intoxication.

Alcohol consumption of more than four drinks (48 g) daily is associated with an increased risk of cirrhosis, liver cancer, and premature death. Alcohol-related liver injury includes acute alcoholic hepatitis, fatty infiltration and cirrhosis. 

There has been a steady rise in the rate of liver diseases over the years. Globally, alcohol, NASH and viral hepatitis are the most common causes of liver diseases. As per the World Health Organisation’s estimates published in 2017, liver disease deaths in India reached 259, 749 or 2.9 percent of total deaths. 

Many studies have suggested that sugar-sweetened beverages play a role in the epidemics of obesity, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease. It has been known that the fructose component in sugar directly causes abnormalities in the metabolism of sugar and lipids. Indirectly, sugar promotes positive energy balance leading to an increase in body weight and fat content which in turn causes dysregulation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.

Vitamin A is considered toxic to the liver. Excessive iron from supplements often present in over-the-counter multivitamin preparations can cause iron to accumulate in the liver cells. Presently, there is no cure for a severely diseased liver. Therefore, it is critical to take care of this multi-functionary organ and gland. The only way to manage a failed liver is to get a liver transplant. 

Let us prevent liver decreases by adopting a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a healthy diet. We should eat foods from all the food groups such as grains, protein, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and fats. Besides, we need to take whole-grain bread, rice and cereals, ensuring safe blood transfusions to avoid contracting Hepatitis A, B and C.

Washing hands after going to the bathroom and doing exercise regularly is also necessary for keeping our liver healthy.