Focus On...Loving Your Liver

Is liver disease the next health epidemic? Reduce your risk with our expert advice

- Natalia Lubomirski

You may not think much of your liver. Hidden deep inside our body, it’s one of the least talked about organs. However, at this time of year, when we’re finding it hard to resist festive food and drink, it may be a good time to give it some thought.

The UK is currently facing a liver disease epidemic. In just 40 years, cases have risen by 400%. According to the British Liver Trust, it’s now the biggest cause of death between 35 and 49-year-olds, and its mortality rates are expected to overtake heart disease in a few years.

‘Prevalence is rising at an alarming rate. One in five of us are now at risk,’ says Pamela Healy, chief executive of the British Liver Trust. ‘We urgently need to raise awareness and improve treatment and services,’ she adds.

The good news is, 90% of liver disease is preventable. So what can we do to lower our risk? We speak to the experts to find out more…

Tissue regeneration

Aside from being one of our hardest working organs, it’s also one of the smartest. In fact, it’s the only one in the body that can completely regenerate itself – and it only needs 25% of the original tissue to do so! But that doesn’t mean we don’t need to look after it.

Three main causes of preventable liver disease exist – alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis.

1 ALCOHOL