Today is World Liver Day, an opportunity to cast a global spotlight on an organ that often flies under the radar, despite its critical role in our wellbeing, and raise awareness of the significance of maintaining good liver health.
Nestled snugly under the right side of your ribcage, the liver, weighing around 1.8 kg in men and 1.3 kg in women (about the size of a rugby ball), is a powerhouse of activity. It tirelessly performs over 500 crucial functions, including filtering toxins, aiding digestion, and regulating metabolism. What sets the liver apart is its remarkable ability to regenerate and replenish lost tissues. However, like an elastic band, it can only stretch so far before breaking.
In the past two decades, liver disease has continued to rise, attributed to increased prevalence of metabolic risk factors, excessive alcohol consumption, and viral hepatitis. Millions are affected worldwide and alarmingly, in the UK, deaths from liver disease in 2022 were the highest on record.
Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, says, "One in three of us is at risk of liver disease, and the numbers of diagnoses are increasing alarmingly. Liver damage often develops silently, with no signs or symptoms, and people may not realize they have a problem until it's too late. Although the liver is remarkably resilient, if left untreated until symptoms appear, the damage is often irreversible."
The good news is that approximately 90% of liver disease cases are preventable and there are things we can do to significantly improve our liver health and reduce our risk of liver disease. The British Liver Trust's Love Your Liver campaign focuses on three steps to nurture your liver back to health:
1. Drink within recommended limits and have three consecutive days off alcohol every week
2. Cut down on sugar, carbohydrates and fat, and take more exercise
3. Know the risk factors for viral hepatitis and get tested or vaccinated if at risk
you can find out if at risk and check your liver health online by doing the online screening test at https://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/screener
You can also download our Love Your Liver factsheets with top tips for taking steps towards a healthier liver here: Love your liver factsheets - British Liver Trust
For more information about World Liver Day and how to get involved visit: World Liver Day - Raising Awareness about Liver Diseases
