How not wreck your Liver?
Your liver plays an important role in your body's digestive system, but you probably do not pay much attention to it. It's in everything you eat and drink, even medicine. It must take proper care to stay healthy and perform its functions.
Your liver is about the size of a football and is located on the right side of your lower ribs. It is responsible for many important functions. It helps in purifying your blood by eliminating the toxic compounds that your body produces. It produces bile, a viscous fluid.
Keeping your liver in good health is not difficult. Ray Chung, medical director of the liver transplant department at Massachusetts General Hospital, believes in living a healthy lifestyle.
“It is more important to avoid harmful ones than to eat or drink foods that are particularly nutritious for the liver,” he explained.
Take care of your liver
Here are some strategies to keep your liver in good shape:
Do not drink too many alcoholic beverages. It damages the liver cells and causes inflammation or scarring, which can develop into cirrhosis, which can be fatal.
When it comes to alcohol, how much more? According to US government standards, men should not drink more than two drinks a day and women should drink only one.
Eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Your heart will be grateful. You will have a healthy weight, which will help you prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which can develop into cirrhosis.
Some medications should be avoided. Some cholesterol medications can sometimes cause liver problems as a side effect. If you take too much acetaminophen (Tylenol), it can damage your liver.
You may be taking more acetaminophen than you thought. It is found in hundreds of medicines, including cold remedies and prescription pain relievers.
If you take certain medications and drink alcohol, it can damage your liver. And some of them can be dangerous when combined with other drugs. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice on the safest way to take your medication.
Learn how to prevent viral hepatitis. It is a deadly liver disease. There are different types. Hepatitis A is spread by eating or drinking water contaminated with the virus that causes the disease. If you are traveling to a part of the world where the epidemic is, you can get vaccinated.
Blood and ****** fluids are used to spread hepatitis B and C. To reduce your risk, do not share toothbrushes, razors, or needles. Keep your partner to a minimum and use a latex condom.
There is currently no vaccination against hepatitis C, although there is hepatitis B.
Get tested for viral hepatitis. Since it rarely causes symptoms, you may suffer for years without realizing it. If you suspect you may have the virus, consult your doctor to determine if a blood test is necessary.
If you were born between 1945 and 1965, the CDC recommends that you be tested for hepatitis C. This condition is most common in baby boomers.
Do not touch or inhale toxins. Some cleaning products, aerosols, and chemicals in pesticides can damage your liver. Keep a safe distance from them. Cigarette additives can damage your liver, so quit smoking.
Herbs and foods should be used with caution. Some of these are harmful to your liver. Kalkara, Chaparral, Comfrey, Kawa, and Ephedra caused some problems.
Recent plants and products on the market that claim to cure the liver include milk thistle seed, Toronto bark, and chanson piedra. Be skeptical of such claims. 'There is never any high-quality evidence that any of them can improve liver health,' Chung said. Some of them may even be harmful.
Drink coffee. This has been shown in studies to reduce the risk of liver disease. No one understood why this was, but it remains to be seen during the next study.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep track of your medications to keep your liver in good shape.
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