Is Your Liver Healthy?

The human liver serves a very important function in a person’s daily life. It works to filter blood that comes from your digestive tract and then passes the blood to the rest of your body once it’s been detoxified. Also, it creates proteins that assist in blood clotting. These functions are essential, and having a healthy liver can prevent the onset of conditions such as cirrhosis, gallstones, liver failure and more.

Chances are, like most people, you probably don’t think much about the health of your liver. We’re all used to hearing about how alcohol can affect a person’s liver, and it’s true. Alcohol consumption plays a big role in liver health. However, there are a lot of other factors to consider. Everything you eat and drink has to pass through your liver at some point, and this includes the medications you take.

At San Francisco Gastroenterology, we take liver health seriously, and in order to help spread awareness, we’ve created a checklist for our readers to follow for optimal liver health.

 Is your liver healthy? Are you… 

• Drinking too much alcohol? Doctors warn about heavy alcohol consumption for obvious reasons, and the health of your liver is included. Alcohol can actually damage liver cells and lead to cirrhosis. Talk to your doctor about your alcohol consumption if you are unsure if your habits are unhealthy.
• Watching your weight? You probably don’t need a new reason to eat a nutritious diet and exercise regularly, but the health of your liver should finally provide the kick you need to take better care of yourself. Obesity, diabetes and high levels of fat in your diet can lead to liver disease if they are unchecked by a healthy diet and physical activity.
• Checking the label on your prescriptions? Certain medications can be harmful to your liver if they are taken repeatedly, over time or in combination with other prescriptions. Carefully read the labels on you medication, and talk to your doctor to determine if your liver health is compromised. He or she may be able to recommend a medication that will not affect your liver.

Another important part of having a healthy liver is to understand hepatitis and how it is transmitted from person to person.  For more information on hepatitis, we invite you to visit our blog post, Hepatitis B vs. Hepatitis C: What’s the Difference?