The liver – Your body’s barometer for ill-health

Healthy Living
Common Ailments

Have you ever wondered if there was a gage within your body measuring health? Many people would assume the closest thing would be the heart or cardiovascular system. The liver, however, turns out to the true barometer of modern ill-health.

Today, we live a life of extremes, and it’s taking a serious toll on our lives and our livers. Whether it’s too much unhealthy food, too little exercise, too many medications or prolonged exposure to chemicals, the liver will often suffer these assaults in silence, but the long-term consequences are leading to an increase in liver-related conditions like fatty liver disease and liver cancer.

More than 1 in 10 Canadians suffers from some form of liver or biliary tract disease – and may not even be aware of it. There are over 100 causes of liver disease. Unfortunately, getting diagnosed or treated is difficult because of the persistent stigmas and ignorance that surround liver disease and the woefully inadequate medical resources in this field. In Canada, hepatologists (liver specialists) are spread very thin. Currently, liver patients outnumber hepatologists 25,000 to 1 with some patients having no access to a specialist within their own province.

We have all heard about how excessive alcohol consumption can destroy one’s liver. Few are aware of the detrimental effect of other unhealthy habits.

“Fat induced liver disease has overtaken alcohol and viral infections as the most common cause of liver disease in Europe and North America,” says Dr. Kevork Peltekian, Canadian Liver Foundation Chairman and the only full-time practicing hepatologist in the Maritimes. “If we extrapolate data from the US, it’s quite likely that unless we change things now, in the next 20 or 30 years obesity will be the leading cause of cirrhosis or irreversible scarring. Fatty liver disease may also become the most common indication for transplantation throughout North America.” Fatty liver disease is caused by a build-up of fat in the liver which can lead to inflammation and eventually cirrhosis and sometimes even liver cancer. Excess fat in the liver can also increase the risk of diabetes and other health conditions.

“The liver is a barometer for many of the ills of the 21st century,” says Gary Fagan, Canadian Liver Foundation president, “but the good news is that it is a very forgiving organ meaning that taking some preventative measures or making better lifestyle choices can lead to more positive outcomes.”

Through its LIVERight campaign, the Foundation wants to put liver health on the radar of each and every Canadian. “Liver health needs to be a priority for individuals, health care professionals, governments and industry,” says Dr. Peltekian. “Each of us has the opportunity to take proactive steps in our daily routines to avoid risks and help the liver do its job. Meanwhile, the medical community, governments and industry need to work together to ensure there are sufficient resources for patient care, research and prevention. Without definitive action, the numbers may continue to move in the wrong direction.”

As part of its new LIVERight campaign, the Canadian Liver Foundation is issuing a call to action to all Canadians to learn how to safeguard their liver health in day-to-day life. The goal of LIVERight is to raise awareness regarding some of the main factors that can affect how our liver functions, including nutrition, exercise, environment, immunization, medication management and risk management. This year, the Foundation will be putting the spotlight on the link between nutrition and liver health.

For more information on LIVERight or the Canadian Liver Foundation’s Liver Health Month activities, visit www.liver.ca or contact your local chapter.