Theme: Be vigilant, Do regular Liver Check – up, fatty Liver Can Affect Anyone.
World Liver Day is observed annually on April 19 and raises the important and often ignored topic of maintaining liver health. World Liver Day is a great initiative to encourage people to educate themselves about liver health, causes and effects of liver diseases. Although liver diseases are quite common in the world, people still know very little about the causes and possible effects of liver diseases. Liver is the second largest and most complex organ in the body after the brain. Everything we eat, drink, and even medicine passes through the liver, so this organ has a crucial role in one’s health.
World Liver Day is celebrated to make people aware and motivate them to keep their liver health in check.
FUNCTIONS OF THE LIVER
- The organ is known to fight any sickness and infections that might affect the body
- The Liver also controls the blood sugar levels in the body
- The Liver helps you get rid of all the toxins in your body.
- It is also responsible for maintaining cholesterol levels in the body.
- The Liver also aids in the clotting of blood by thickening it.
The Liver secretes a liquid known as bile juice. The liquid is responsible for breaking down fats and aids in digestion
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL LIVER AWARENESS MONTH
- Become an advocate on social media. Writing a post or even a blog can raise everybody’s awareness. Spread awareness of liver-related diseases, often linked with overconsumption of alcohol, excessive smoking, unhealthy eating habits, or obesity.
- World Liver Day provides the right time for people and healthcare workers to discuss liver health. You can attend various seminars, events, and workshops organized by health organizations to expand your knowledge of liver diseases.
- Invite a panel of health educators to share some knowledge about liver disease and prevention. A survivor with a compelling story can also be included.
- Help in fund raising for research and treatment.
If you’ve been silently struggling with liver disease, use this month to go public. Share your story loudly and proudly because you are not alone. Someone else may be in denial about their illness or simply following negative behaviors.
FACTS ABOUT LIVER
- It’s your heaviest internal organ
- An average adult liver can weigh up to three pounds, the size of a Chihuahua!
- It can grow back. The liver is the only organ that can completely regenerate, needing as little as a quarter of its original tissue to do so.
- It holds a lot of blood. Your liver can have 10 percent of your body’s blood in it.
- Does a ton of jobs from filtering blood to producing bile, our liver performs around 200 important functions for the body.
CAUSES OF LIVER DISEASES
The following are the topmost causes of liver diseases:
- Liver Cirrhosis – Nearly a third of people with liver cirrhosis are asymptomatic. Cirrhosis of the Liver is the most prevalent chronic liver disease, and it occurs when diseased tissue replaces healthy liver tissue over time due to significant liver damage.
- Hepatitis – It refers to the inflammation of the Liver. Hepatitis is classified into five categories based on the virus that causes it. Ingestion of infected food/water causes Hepatitis A and E, while transmission/exposure to infective bodily fluids, blood, and sperm cause Hepatitis B, C, and D.
- Alcohol Abuse – Overconsumption of alcohol causes most liver illnesses. If you drink too much alcohol and overload your liver, the excess alcohol will circulate in your blood. As a result, our organs, such as the brain and heart, are affected, increasing drunkenness.
SYMPTOMS OF LIVER DISEASES
When the liver starts to fail or has some issue with it, it starts showing certain signs and symptoms, such as the following:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Jaundice
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR LIVER
- Watch your weight, eat a balanced diet, and exercise regularly to avoid diseases like Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).
- Look out for toxins lurking in your environment that can damage your precious liver cells. When you use cleaning products or insecticides, make sure the room has good ventilation. Bottom line, you only have one liver and you can’t live without it.
- If you drink, do it in moderation because alcohol can destroy and scar your liver.
- Never use illicit drugs because the high isn’t worth sacrificing your liver.
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