World Liver Day: 19th April 2018

“Help yourself understand your liver better!

Be a change agent in the fight against Liver disease!”

New Delhi, April 18, 2018:

World Liver day is observed on the 19^th April every year. It is a chance for the medical and non – medical communities to congregate and build awareness around how liver disease can manifest and cause problems. The liver is the second largest organ in the body. It has a complex structure and function, playing a key role in the digestive system of the human body. The liver processes all the food and liquid intake including medication. Therefore it is impossible to survive without the functioning of the liver. 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. If not treated timely, these can lead to Liver Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer. .

There has been a revival of interest in liver cancer, medically referred to as Hepatocellular cancer. This is because it is now the fifth most common cancer claiming millions of lives annually. Recently the methods of its detection and specific treatment modalities have led to the cure of many. The importance of checking and screening for Hepatitis B and C therefore cannot be over emphasized. Superior technology, such as triple-phase contrast enhanced CT scanning and MRI lead to higher pick-up rates of even smaller tumours.

This World Liver Day, Dr. Arvind Khurana, Director and Head, Department of Gastroenterology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh encourages you to understand your liver better.

The liver performs the following functions:

Fighting infections and illness
Regulating blood sugar
Removing toxic substances from the body
Controlling cholesterol levels
Helping blood to clot (thicken)
Making many of the body’s essential proteins
Releasing bile (A liquid that breaks down fats and aids in digestion)
Responsible for manufacturing cholesterol and triglycerides.
Breaks down medications and drugs, including alcohol
Breaks down insulin and other hormones in the body.

The causes for liver disease:

Liver disease can be inherited or genetic
Unhealthy lifestyle and eating patterns
Viruses such as hepatitis A, B and C can damage the liver.
Increased consumption of alcoholic drinks along with high cholesterol-inducing junk foods
Overweight, Marked Obesity and Type 2 diabetes

Symptoms of liver disease:

Jaundice

Sudden weight loss
A decrease in appetite
Nausea and vomiting
General weakness and/or fatigue
Pain occurring in the upper abdomen on the right side or near the right shoulder blade.
Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly)
Enlarged spleen
Abdominal swelling (ascites)

Detox Diet for Liver Cleansing

Eat garlic, grapefruit, carrot, green leafy vegetables, apple and walnuts
Use olive oil
Take lemon and lime juice and green tea
Prefer alternative grains (Quinoa, Millet and Buckwheat)
Add cruciferous vegetables (Cabbage, Broccoli and Cauliflower)
Use turmeric in food

Prevention of liver disease:

Adopt healthy lifestyle habits
Maintain a healthy diet
Eat foods from all the food groups: grains, protein, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and fats
Eat foods that have lot of fibres such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, rice and cereals
Ensure safe blood transfusions to avoid contracting hepatitis A, B, C
Wash hands after going to the bathroom
Avoid tap water when traveling
Say No to Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs
Exercise regularly to keep your liver healthy.

According to WHO, liver diseases are the 10th most common cause of death in India. Since the liver is a multi-functionary organ, it is susceptible to viruses, toxic substances, contaminants present in food and water. However even when it is under siege, the liver is slow to complain as it is a tough, hardy part of our body. People with liver problems often experience few or no symptoms. While there have been major advances in treating liver diseases, there is no complete cure. The only way to manage a failed liver is to get a liver transplant. Liver transplants in India can be divided into two time periods i.e. from 1995 to 2004 and 2005 to 2015. The first time period saw 131 successful liver transplants. However in the second period liver transplants took place at an exponential rate. 1,200 liver transplants were done in 2014 alone.