Love Your Liver, Protect Your Health

Hannah Do, MD, a gastroenterologist, treats people who have liver disease. The liver model she’s holding shows how liver disease progresses from the healthy side on the left, to the fatty, stiff tissue on the right.

Your liver is a hardworking organ and the biggest in the human body, about the size of a football. It filters blood and does over 500 important things for your health, according to the American Liver Foundation (ALF).

“The liver is part of the digestive system. When you eat, take medication, or drink alcohol, your body releases chemical byproducts into the bloodstream through your stomach and intestines," says Hannah Do, MD, a gastroenterologist. Your liver has multiple functions that are vital to overall health, breaking down food, storing nutrients, processing medications, and removing toxins and waste from your blood.

An Organ that Regenerates

For thousands of years, people have been fascinated by our liver’s remarkable ability to restore itself. The ancient Greeks wrote of Prometheus, who after stealing fire from the gods, had an eternity of suffering made possible only by his liver’s regenerative powers. Chained to a rock by Zeus as punishment for his crime, Prometheus’ liver is consumed by an eagle each day, only to regenerate each night.

A person can receive a liver transplant from a living donor because when doctors remove part of the liver, it grows back, explains Dr. Do.

Don’t Wait to Take Care of Your Liver

“When the liver becomes stiff and scarred, we call that cirrhosis,” says Dr. Do. “This means the liver can't filter properly, which leads to a buildup of byproducts in the body.”

Liver-related symptoms include:

• Yellow skin (jaundice)
• Yellowing of the whites of the eyes
• Itchy skin
• Abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting
• Fatigue
• Swollen ankles, legs, or belly
• Weight loss
• Dark urine
• Stool that is pale, bloody, or very dark

If you have any of these symptoms, notify your primary care provider.

Your Keys to a Healthy Liver

A healthy liver starts with exercise, hydration, and good nutrition, according to Dr. Do.

Exercise

A daily walk can clear your head and give your liver a boost. “People who exercise regularly have less fat in their livers,” says Dr. Do.

Stay Hydrated

Your liver functions best when you drink plenty of water – about 64 ounces a day.

Eat a Balanced Diet

The best menu for your liver includes grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, beans, milk, and oil, according to the ALF. Focus on high fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; limit foods that are high in sugars, salts, and saturated fat – especially processed and fast foods.

Avoid Food-Borne Illnesses

Be aware of food-borne illnesses that can lead to liver damage and avoid foods such as raw or undercooked shellfish. Eating poorly washed raw vegetables that have been contaminated can also lead to liver problems. Dr. Do recommends that her patients who have liver disease order fully cooked foods when eating out, including vegetables. For example, opting for sautéed spinach or baked vegetables rather than raw vegetables that may be contaminated by bacteria.

Have an Annual Physical and Blood Work

Routine check-ups with your primary care provider (PCP) are key to overall health. Blood work, including liver function testing, can help your doctor identify liver problems earlier. If you are 18 or older, you should also have a blood test for Hepatitis C.

Avoid Substances that Damage Your Liver

You can overwork your liver by taking in too many toxins. For example, too much acetaminophen (Tylenol®) can harm your liver, especially when mixed with alcohol, according to Dr. Do. Take a cautious approach to medications, whether prescribed or over-the-counter. “It is a good idea to review medications and supplements, along with proper doses, with your PCP," she says. Drinking too much alcohol can harm your liver.  The amount that is harmful varies based on age, gender, weight and many other factors.  Dr. Do recommends talking to your doctor about how much alcohol is safe for you.

Be Aware of Diseases That Harm Your Liver

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects a growing number of people in the United States. A buildup of fats in the liver can cause damage, if left untreated. Lifestyle changes can help.

Risk factors for NAFLD include:

• High body mass index (BMI)

• Diabetes

• High cholesterol

• High blood pressure

• Carrying most of your weight in your bell

Hepatitis, an inflammation of your liver, has various causes and types.

Hepatitis B - Caused by a virus, this disease is treatable, but not curable. Hepatitis B is transmitted through sexual contact, sharing needles, or from mother to baby.  Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended to all children at birth and for high risk patients not already immune such as health care workers.

Hepatitis A - Extremely rare but highly contagious, Hepatitis A is preventable through a vaccine, according to Dr. Do. This virus exists in the blood and stool of people who are living with the infection. You can get Hepatitis A through contaminated food or drink or from close contact with a person who has the infection. For most healthy people, the condition improves over time with rest, good nutrition, and hydration. It can be lethal for people with liver disease or a weakened immune system.

Hepatitis C - There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C, which spreads through contact with blood, most often through sharing needles to inject drugs. The disease is treatable with medication. You can have Hepatitis C without symptoms but still pass it on to others. By the time symptoms appear, a person may already have advanced liver disease, according to the CDC. “That’s why doctors recommend testing everyone age 18 and older,” explains Dr. Do.

Risk Factors for Liver Cancer

Hepatitis and NAFLD can lead to liver cancer, the fastest-growing cause of cancer death in the United States. Liver cancer takes the lives of about 30,000 U.S. adults a year, according to the ALF.

Further Reading

• Read more about liver health by visiting the American Liver Foundation.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides liver health statistics and information about liver disease.

Learn more

Visit our website to learn more about liver care at Doylestown Health.