Liver Care

More Information

Liver care is something you hardly think about, but it is important to know that your liver plays a crucial role in the functioning of the digestive system. Everything you consume, including food and medicines, passes through it. One should treat it right so that it can stay healthy and perform its functions well. Your liver is about the size of a football and locates under your rib cage on the right side.

It performs several duties, including cleaning of blood to get rid of harmful chemicals that your body makes. The vital organ produces bile fluid which assists in breaking down fat from the food you eat.  It also stores glucose (sugar), which provides energy when you need it. Keeping your liver healthy is all about following a healthy lifestyle. By keeping an eye to your eating and drinking pattern is particularly nourishing to the liver.

How to take care of Liver?

Follow these healthy habits to keep your liver healthy:

• Do not drink alcohol - Drinking alcohol can damage your liver cells, which in turn causes swelling or scarring, ultimately leading to cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis can be deadly. 
• Eat healthily - Your liver will thank you if you eat healthily and keep your weight under control. Following a healthy diet may help prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition 
• Get regular exercise - Regular physical activity is key to a healthy liver; it not only decreases stress on the liver but also boosts energy levels and helps to prevent obesity. 
• Protect yourself from hepatitis B or C - Currently, there are no shots available for Hepatitis C. The liver infection can be transmitted sexually or via blood transfusion. So, practice safe sex and sharing razors, needles, toothbrushes, and other personal care items as these can transmit the deadly virus. If you have been diagnosed with Hepatitis B or C, speak to your health care specialist about a screening program to diagnose the problem at an early stage. Moreover, treatment for liver diseases usually depends on your diagnosis. Mild problems can be treated with certain lifestyle modifications, such as stopping alcohol consumption, stopping smoking, or lose weight as a part of a complete treatment program which also includes careful monitoring of liver functions. Other moderate to severe conditions may be treated with prescription medications, or some may require surgery. Liver failure may ultimately require a liver transplant.

Medications for people with Liver Disease

People with a mild issue can safely take most common prescription and non-prescription medications at a suggested dose. A variety of medications are available for treating common liver disease and has shown promising results and potential problems. Note that no alternative medicines got the approval for treating liver disease.  Some clinical studies have indicated possible benefits, but more research is needed. Certain dietary and herbal supplements can cause potential damage to your liver. A wide range of herbal products has been associated with liver damage, including vitamin A, valerian, germander, etc. To protect your liver better, it is necessary to consult a health care specialist. Having mild liver conditions such as hepatitis C of fatty liver can be treated with prescription medications like Hepcinat or Ledihep depending on the condition of the patient. A person with pre-existing liver disease is more likely to develop liver injury from medication, and the resulting liver damage will be more severe than would occur in a healthy person. Therefore, it is important to use liver medications under the supervision of a health care specialist. People with life-threatening conditions like liver cirrhosis must be more careful regarding the dose of liver medications. Certain medications should be used in lower concentration, especially when the patient is dealing with advanced cirrhosis.

Minimize the risk of liver complications from medications

• Always keep a list of prescription and non-prescription medications that you take, including milk thistle and other supplements. Share that list with your health care provider during the time of appointment.
• Make sure you use liver medications under the guidance of a health care specialist.
• When using your prescription drugs, be sure to read the prescription carefully and never exceed the recommended amount. Do not take the dose for a prolonged period without discussing with your health care professional.
• Limit alcohol consumption, if you drink a significant amount of alcohol daily, then avoid using acetaminophen and consult your health care specialist regarding the same.

Conclusion

Your everyday decisions can have a great impact on your liver health. The choices you make daily related to food consumption and activity can have a negative and positive effect on your liver. To protect your liver, it is important to understand the crucial role this organ plays in your body. Even physical activities that you may take for granted can help or hurt your vital organ. By learning more about liver care management, you may help reduce the risk of developing not only liver issues but also other health conditions, including heart complications and diabetes mellitus. To avoid complications and life-threatening situations, you must speak to a health care specialist about all the medications or supplements that you are using or thinking of taking. If your health care specialist prescribes a long-term liver medication, he/she may perform a liver test before giving you the medication and after a few weeks of treatment to determine whether your liver is tolerating it or not. Follow up with regular liver tests during the entire treatment.