Looking after your liver

Did you know that 9 in 10 cases of liver disease could be prevented?

You only have one liver, so it’s important to know how to look after it. Your liver is the largest organ inside your body and does hundreds of essential jobs. It works hard and can take a lot of abuse, but it is like an elastic band – it can only stretch so far before it breaks.

Alcohol

A quarter of us drink at levels that could put our health at risk.

Regularly drinking more than the recommended amount over a long period can damage your liver. This can lead to alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) and liver cancer.

What you can do to reduce liver damage from alcohol

Men and women should drink no more than 14 units per week.
Give your liver a regular break and have 2 to 3 alcohol free days each week – try to have them all in a row.

Weight

Many of us are overweight and don’t do enough exercise

Fatty deposits can build up in the liver. Over time they can damage the liver and stop it working properly.

People who have an unhealthy diet, live with overweight or obesity, don’t get enough physical activity, or live with type 2 diabetes are more at risk of developing a fatty liver.

Keeping to a healthy weight is an important way to reduce your risk of developing liver disease. For most people, losing weight slowly is the best approach. Making your diet healthier and more balanced and being more physically active both help to lose weight and keep it off.

Find out more about how to reduce your risk by keeping to a healthy weight and eating a healthy, balanced diet. Learn more about Non-Alcohol Related Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Our Eating Well for a healthy liver factsheet provides practical tips for everyday life.

Download factsheet

Viral hepatitis

There are several viruses that cause hepatitis. The common ones are hepatitis A, B and C. Most people recover from hepatitis A with no lasting liver damage, but hepatitis B and C can cause long term liver disease and even liver cancer.

Protect yourself

Never share razors, nail scissors or toothbrushes
Cover wounds, especially when you play sport
Only use licensed tattoo and piercing studios and make sure all equipment used has been sterilised
Use a condom during sex
Never share drug equipment, and don’t use rolled-up bank notes
If you need medical treatment abroad make sure only sterile equipment is used.

Learn more about Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C

Love Your Liver

Love Your Liver is our national awareness campaign devoted to liver health awareness and giving people the key steps needed to keep their liver healthy.

9 in 10 liver disease cases can be prevented with simple lifestyle changes and as part of our national campaign, we offer a free online screener, arrange national roadshows and work with healthcare professionals.

Find out more about the campaign