World Liver Day 2024: Key Facts about Liver Health

World Liver Day Overview

World Liver Day 2024 is celebrated on April 19 annually to spread awareness about the various diseases of the liver. This day is celebrated annually to bring together communities, medical professionals, and lawmakers to address the growing cases of liver diseases worldwide and promote preventive measures for liver diseases. This year’s World Liver Day theme is “Be vigilant, get regular liver check-ups, and prevent fatty liver diseases”. 

Why Liver Health is Important

The liver is one of the most vital organs in the body that performs some of the most crucial physiological functions, including detoxification, maintaining good metabolism, and producing vital proteins. It is the largest organ in the body and is responsible for filtering blood before it passes through the rest of the body. Despite its significance in the human body, we tend to ignore our liver health, leading to almost 1.5 billion people suffering from a range of liver diseases, including fatty liver disease, annually. Nearly 2 billion people die every year due to chronic liver diseases. This should encourage us to take steps in the right direction and start following healthy liver practices that promote good liver health.

Interesting Facts About the Liver 

The liver plays many vital roles in the body, including filtering toxins and chemicals from the body, which are disposed of as bile and removed from the body via urine or stool. Here are some interesting facts about the human liver: 

• Regenerative ability

The liver is the only organ in the body that can regrow completely. To do so, only 25% of the liver tissues must remain attached or implanted. 

• Water storage and blood glucose control

If a person has fatty liver disease, then type-2 diabetes can occur. Blood sugar levels are maintained by converting glucose from carbohydrate-rich foods into glycogen. Glycogen is stored in the liver and absorbs water, making the liver capable of storing water.

• Maintaining brain function

The brain’s function depends on the liver. The liver maintains plasma glucose and ammonia levels, which can result in encephalopathy and eventually lead to coma if they go out of control. Thus, a healthy liver maintains a functioning brain to some extent.

• Hormone metabolism

The liver is a site of hormone breakdown, which is then turned into bile. The bile enters the intestines to get excreted. If the liver cannot break down essential hormones like oestrogen and androgen, many problems and symptoms may appear in males and females.

• Storage of vitamins and minerals

The liver also helps store essential vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, along with minerals like iron and copper.

• Recycle ground for blood

The liver can generate new blood during foetal development and recycle blood in adults. It is also responsible for degrading old or damaged blood cells.

• Determining cholesterol levels

Liver health is essential for determining cholesterol levels in the body. A fatty liver can mean a high percentage of bad cholesterol or LDL. 

How to Keep Liver Healthy: Tips to Prevent Liver Disease 

Liver diseases can be caused by several factors, ranging from genetic factors to excessive alcohol consumption and viral infections. Different liver disorders can cause different liver disease symptoms. Fatty liver disease is one of the most common conditions, and it occurs when the liver accumulates excess fat. Signs of fatty liver disease can be mild or severe depending on how far the condition has progressed. In general, signs of liver damage show a combination of the following symptoms:

• Fatigue or muscle weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Abdominal swelling
• Discomfort or pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
• Nausea
• Yellowing of the skin or eye whites (jaundice) and red palms

In severe cases, liver diseases like fatty liver disease can exhibit signs like:

• Confusion
• Hallucination
• Loss of memory
• Black or tarry stools
• Itching skin or bleeding 

There can also be other chronic and severe liver conditions, like liver cirrhosis and liver failure. These liver diseases can prove to be fatal if not treated on time. Fortunately, there are several things that a person can do to maintain a healthy liver and prevent liver diseases.

Here are some tips for a disease-free, healthy liver:

• Limit alcohol consumption: 

The most important thing to do to reduce the chances of liver damage is to limit and check the amount of alcohol consumed. Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of liver cirrhosis and liver damage. 

• Maintain a healthy weight.

Obesity is another one of the causes of liver damage, often leading to fatty liver disease. Maintaining a healthy weight and active lifestyle is crucial to good liver health.

• Avoid unhealthy foods

A diet rich in saturated and trans fats can contribute to fatty liver disease. Instead, focus on a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. 

• Get regular check-ups

Getting screened for liver health can help detect any abnormalities beforehand, enabling doctors to provide timely and adequate liver treatment to prevent complications. 

• Get vaccinated

Getting vaccinated against viruses like hepatitis A and B can help prevent potential liver damage due to these viruses. 

• Practise safe sex

Using physical barrier methods for intercourse is not only essential to prevent sexually transmitted diseases but also crucial to protect the health of various organs, including the liver. Hepatitis B and C can be transmitted through contact during unprotected intercourse. Thus, practising safe methods of sexual intercourse is imperative to prevent liver diseases.

Liver diseases can be caused by several factors, ranging from genetic factors to excessive alcohol consumption and viral infections. Different liver disorders can cause different liver disease symptoms. Fatty liver disease is one of the most common conditions, and it occurs when the liver accumulates excess fat. Signs of fatty liver disease can be mild or severe depending on how far the condition has progressed. In general, signs of liver damage show a combination of the following symptoms:

• Fatigue or muscle weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Abdominal swelling
• Discomfort or pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
• Nausea
• Yellowing of the skin or eye whites (jaundice) and red palms

In severe cases, liver diseases like fatty liver disease can exhibit signs like:

• Confusion
• Hallucination
• Loss of memory
• Black or tarry stools
• Itching skin or bleeding 

Taking Care of the Liver

Liver diseases can go unnoticed for many years but may cause severe damage in the meantime, or until the symptoms appear and the disease has already progressed. That’s why regular check-ups of liver health, including the whole body, is extremely crucial to prevent worsening of a liver condition, if present. If there are liver disease symptoms like fatigue, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or abdominal pain, a doctor’s advice should be taken as early as possible. 

Conclusion 

World Liver Day compels us to pause and reflect on our liver health. It is a reminder to consider steps to improve our liver health and prevent liver diseases. By making healthier lifestyle choices, incorporating liver healthy foods, and visiting the doctor for regular health check-ups, we can ensure maintenance of our liver health, detect any liver issue at the earliest, and ensure that a liver disease can be nipped in the bud. By following the tips to prevent liver disease, we can take steps to maintain good liver health and enhance our quality of life greatly.