5 reasons you may be at risk for liver disease

The human liver is a wondrous organ. Each day it makes bile, converts nutrients from your diet, cleans toxins from your blood, breaks down fats, alcohol and medications, controls blood sugar and hormone levels, stores iron and much more.

Dr. Saleh Alqahtani, director of clinical liver research for Johns Hopkins Medicine, notes that you shouldn’t wait for symptoms to appear to begin paying attention to the possibility of liver disease. “You don’t want to turn yellow with jaundice or feel pain in your upper right abdomen because those are signs your liver is already very sick,” says Dr. Alqahtani. “It is far better to stop liver disease before it gets too serious.”

Here are the top five risk factors for developing liver disease.

1. Exposure to toxins

While the liver is responsible for cleaning toxins from the blood, overexposure to toxins can be harmful. Read warning labels on chemicals you use around the house, and wash fruits and vegetables before consumption to ensure you’re not digesting pesticides.

2. Harmful supplements

Just because a supplement is labeled as “natural” doesn’t mean it’s good for you — many herbs and supplements have been associated with liver damage. “Twenty percent of liver injury in the U.S. is caused by herbs,” says Dr. Alqahtani. Taking more than one medicine or herb that acts on the liver may compound the issue. Tell your doctor about every medication and supplement you take, even occasional or over-the-counter remedies.

3. Too much alcohol

Alcoholic fatty liver, which causes liver inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis ), eventual scarring ( cirrhosis ) and even liver cancer , is a process that begins on as little as four drinks a day for men and two for women. By the time you show symptoms, your liver may be damaged beyond repair. The good news: people who stop drinking at the fatty liver stage may find their condition reversing itself.

4. Obesity, diabetes or high cholesterol

These conditions can cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which may also lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. “Fatty liver disease is the world’s fastest growing reason for needing a liver transplant,” says Dr. Alqahtani. As with alcoholic fatty liver, it can be reversed at the “fatty” stage by cutting simple carbohydrates like bread and sugar and eating more fruits, vegetables and protein. Another tip: Drink lots of coffee.

5. History of liver disease

Whether you or a family member has experienced liver disease, you may be more vulnerable to liver conditions. For example, hepatitis B or C and hemochromatosis are risk factors for liver cancer. If a close relative ever had a genetic liver disease, such as hemochromatosis, Wilson disease or alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, then you should watch out for symptoms. If you or an immediate family member has had liver disease, you’ll need to avoid alcohol.

Source: JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE

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