October is Liver Awareness Month
Liver Awareness Month
October
Why is my Liver Important?
The liver purifies blood and detoxifies infections, alcohol, metals, drugs, chemicals, and poisons from the blood. It digests fats, manufactures proteins and processes everything you take in.
If you do not work to keep your liver healthy you could develop:
- Liver failure
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Fatty Liver
- Ascites
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gilbert Syndrome
- Hepatitis A, B or C
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Fibrosis
- Hemochromatosis
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Wilsons Disease
How Can You Tell if Your Liver is not Working?
- Jaundice
- Dark colored urine
- Severe itching
- Pale colored stools
- Fatigue
- Bloating
- Headaches
- Memory problems
- Breast pain
- Depression
- Spider shaped blood vessels on stomach
- Menstrual disturbances
- Nausea and vomiting
- Low appetite
- Tender or painful abdomen
How can you Prevent against Liver Disease?
Liver disease can be prevented by avoiding alcohol, stress, sugar, and fatty foods. Alcohol destroys healthy liver cells. Stress prevents the liver to work properly. When too much sugar is consumed, the liver starts to convert it to fat which increases the chance of fatty liver disease and prevents the liver from functioning normally. Fatty foods can slow down liver function, increase the risk of fatty liver disease and increase the risk of hypertension. You can also prevent liver disease by drinking more water, practicing relaxation techniques, and eating a healthy diet. Water helps the liver process waste and relaxation techniques will help relieve stress.
How do you Treat Liver Disease?
There are several types of liver treatments. The type of treatment you receive depends on your diagnosis. You and your doctor should discuss t what the best treatment plan will be for you.
** It is best to see you Primary Care Physician regularly in order to keep your liver healthy. Please call 773-702-0660 to make an appointment at Friend Family Health Center.**
Leave a Reply