From before you were born until now, your liver has been a powerhouse of an organ. It is essential to regulating various life processes, from blood formation in utero to detoxifying everything you ate today. Maintaining your liver health is essential to maintaining your life. Millions have a liver disease that could prove fatal. More than 5 million have a form of hepatitis, and about 40 million have a form of fatty liver disease, which increases your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Liver cancer is one of the fastest growing forms of cancer, and less than 10 percent of those diagnosed will survive the disease. In 2009, more than 15,000 people were awaiting a liver transplant.
About the Liver
Your liver is roughly the size of a football, and it sits on the right side of the abdominal cavity just below the diaphragm. Reddish-brown in color, the liver has four lobes and weighs about three pounds. The liver is connected directly to your heart and to your intestines through two blood vessels known as the hepatic artery and the portal vein, making the liver critical in digestive, metabolic and circulatory functioning.
Liver Functions
Your liver produces chemicals that break down fats, converts glucose into energy, produces the main ingredient in urine, creates the building blocks of protein, filters dangerous substances in the blood, stores vitamins and minerals and maintains your blood sugar level. It assists in digestion, helps clot your blood, controls your body heat, regulates hormones and fights infections. Moreover, it prevents the toxins in the air, including exhaust, smoke, and chemicals you breathe, from poisoning you. The liver also produces about 80 percent of the body's cholesterol and helps with your immune system.
Liver Diseases
There are more than 100 known diseases of the liver. Among the most common are hepatitis A, B and C, all of which are caused by a different virus and can cause the liver to swell and not function properly. Hepatitis B and C can lead to liver cancer. Fatty liver diseases involve the buildup of fat, and they are very common among people who drink too much alcohol and people who are significantly overweight. Hepatitis and fatty liver diseases are preventable. Liver cancer is the growth of cancers cells starting in your liver. Public health officials call many liver diseases "silent" because they often have no symptoms until the disease advances. Pay attention if your eyes get a yellowish discoloration or you have abdominal swelling or pain, chronically itchy skin, dark urine or stools or an unexplained loss of appetite. These could signal liver problems.
Taking Care of Your Liver
Liver health starts with eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise. Choose foods from all the food groups and reduce the amount of saturate fat you consume. Be sure not to overwhelm your liver with too much protein at any one meal. Stop smoking entirely and reduce or eliminate alcoholic beverages from your diet. Limit your contact with toxins from cleaning and aerosol products, insecticides and chemicals.
Vaccination
Hepatitis A and B can be prevented with vaccines. A blood test can determine whether you've previously been exposed to either. If you haven't, talk with your doctor about getting vaccinated. A combination A and B vaccine is available.
Medicines, Natural Remedies and Liver Health
According to Hepatitis Foundation International, so-called "natural," herbal or diet treatments and herbal remedies can be harmful to your liver. Among those plants that are toxic to the liver are the Senecio, Crotalaria and Heliotopium families, plus chaparral, germander, comfrey, mistletoe, skullcap, margosa oil, mate tea, Gordolobo yerba tea, pennyroyal and Jin Blu Huan. Regular medications also need to be taken with care. Taking too much or mixing the wrong medicines can damage your liver. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions and talk about the other medications you've been prescribed.
References
- Hepatitis Foundation International: Caring for Your Liver
- Project Inform: Towards a Healthy Liver
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Liver
- American Liver Foundation: An Introduction to Liver Care
- National Liver Foundation: Prevention of Liver Diseases
- MayoClinic.com: Liver Problems
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