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The Liver is one of the most important organs in the body and performs hundreds of tasks that are vital to keep you alive. One of its biggest roles is getting rid of waste and harmful stuff from the body.
Liver facts
The Liver is just under the ribs and in adults it’s almost as big as a rugby ball.
The Liver has two blood supplies; one from the heart and the other, full of nutrients, from the intestines.
Liver Functions
The liver is the body’s factory; it’s amazing how much it does, for instance it makes the stuff that stops you bleeding when you are injured and it extracts the healthy bits from food and gets rid of the rest.
Plus the liver is the body’s waste disposal plant. It cleans the blood and breaks down and removes harmful drugs, alcohol and poisons. It recycles waste into new building blocks for the body.
The Liver helps the body fight infection, with specially designed cells that digest bacteria and waste, and keeps the blood in good condition.
Energy
Energy comes from the food we eat. The liver makes sure every part of the body has access to the energy it needs, whether you’re running, dancing, or sleeping.
Energy comes in 3 different forms.
It can be instant like cash, easy access like a cash card, and fat is long-term storage like savings.
Liver disease
The Liver works hard and is tough, but like everything it has its breaking point.
Most Liver diseases develop slowly and silently with no symptoms, so people might not know their liver is suffering.
Liver disease is the 5th largest cause of death in the UK and it’s on the rise.
There are over 100 different causes of liver disease but the good news is you can help prevent the most common.
Alcoholic liver disease. The liver has to break down all the alcohol you drink.
If you regularly drink more than a pint or two of beer, or a couple of glasses of wine each day, you’re putting the liver under incredible strain. Over time, this can cause liver failure.
Fatty liver disease is when fatty deposits build up in your liver and can cause inflammation and liver damage. This is more likely if you are overweight and don’t exercise.
Viruses, including hepatitis A, B and C, can invade the liver and cause damage.
People may not know they have them so they’re easy to pass on.
You might pick up Hepatitis A on holiday abroad from contaminated food and water. People tend to recover fully, but there is a vaccine to prevent it.
Hepatitis B is carried in blood and body fluids. You can get infected from sharing equipment for tattooing or drug use, or from unprotected sex . Symptoms can include fatigue, nausea and weight loss. There is a vaccine.
Hepatitis C is carried in the blood and can be passed on through sharing drug or tattoo equipment, razors and unprotected sex. Some people may have no symptoms for years while others may get chronic fatigue, brain fog and nausea.
Long-term infection with hep B or C can cause liver damage which can be very serious, and even fatal. There is no vaccine for hep C.
With 500 different roles in keeping your body working, you really need to take care of your liver.
Think about how much alcohol you drink and give your liver a two day break from alcohol each week.
Watch your weight and take exercise.
Get your vaccines for Hepatitis A & B well in advance of travelling.
Always practice safer sex – use a condom.
Don’t share razors, needles or any injecting equipment.
And get tested if you think you’ve been at risk as there are treatments that can help.
Get protected, get tested and get treated.
Take control of your health and Liver Good Life