Many people do not know how to take care of their livers.
Consequently, several of us suffer from health problems related to this organ, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatic cirrhosis or scarring of the liver, hepatitis – like types A, B, C, D and E – hepatomegaly (abnormal enlargement of the liver), liver cancer, acute and chronic liver failure, toxic liver disease. The list goes on and on.
Similar to the kidneys, our liver is one important body organ that we should take care and be mindful of.
The liver is necessary for digesting food, storing energy, cleaning blood and fighting infection.
And if we don’t take care of it, we suffer and have manifestations, such as nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, jaundice, dark urine and weight loss.
However, symptoms can vary, depending on the specific disease or cause of damage.
To keep your liver healthy, follow a healthy lifestyle and keep a close eye on medicines.
Remember this that the liver can be a very forgiving organ, but it has its limits, said internal-medicine specialist Dr. Laura Martin.
Therefore, in order to not wreck your own liver, Martin shares the following tips to keep your liver functional and healthy:
* Don’t drink a lot of alcohol. It can damage liver cells and lead to the swelling or scarring that becomes cirrhosis, which can be deadly. So, how much alcohol is too much? U.S. government guidelines say men should drink no more than two drinks a day – and women, only one.
* Eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Your liver will thank you when you keep your weight under control, which helps prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition that leads to cirrhosis.
* Watch out for certain medicines. Some cholesterol drugs can occasionally have a side effect that causes liver problems. The painkiller acetaminophen like Tylenol can hurt your liver if you take too much. You may be taking more acetaminophen than you realize. It’s found in hundreds of drugs like cold medicines and prescription pain medicines. Some medicines can hurt your liver if you drink alcohol when you take them and some are harmful when combined with other drugs. So, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the safest way to take your medicines.
* Learn how to prevent viral hepatitis. It’s a serious disease that harms your liver. There are several types, like you catch hepatitis A from eating or drinking water that’s got the virus that causes the disease; and hepatitis B and C are spread through blood and body fluids. To cut your risk, don’t share items like toothbrushes, razors, or needles.
* Get tested for viral hepatitis. Because it often doesn’t cause symptoms, you can have it for years and not know it. If you think you’ve had contact with the virus, talk to your doctor to see if you need a blood test.
* The CDC recommends you get tested for hepatitis C if you were born between 1945-1965. The baby boomer generation is more likely to have the disease.
* Don’t touch or breathe in toxins.
Ana Williams is the health columnist for The Graham Star.