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The liver is the body's
largest and most metabolically complex internal
organ. It is the ultimate multi-tasker
performing over 500 vital jobs, including
fighting off infections and viruses,
neutralizing toxins, and feeding the body the
energy it needs to function.
The fact that the liver can regenerate itself
makes it possible for someone to donate part of
their liver to another person (this is referred
to as being a 'living donor'). When a portion of
the liver is transplanted, the donor's liver
will regenerate back to its original size while
the transplanted portion will grow to the
appropriate size for the recipient. Another
impressive quality of the liver is its ability
to heal itself (assuming that the harm done to
it is not too extensive).
The liver has the
unenviable role of processing virtually
everything we consume, breathe in or rub on our
skin. If you find yourself always grabbing quick
- but high calorie -- meals on the go, you may
be building up fat in your liver that could lead
to long term damage. When you use harsh
chemicals for cleaning or pesticides to rid your
garden of pests, you may be putting stress on
your liver by breathing the fumes or having
these chemicals get on your skin.
Viral hepatitis is a
serious form of liver disease of which there are
at least six known types. Hepatitis A, B and C
are the most common forms. The virus that causes
hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than
the virus that causes AIDS and is the leading
cause of liver cancer worldwide. There are an
estimated 250,000 - 300,000 Canadians with
hepatitis B and over 350,000 million globally.
Hepatitis C is four times more common than HIV
and affects approximately 250,000 Canadians and
170 million people worldwide.
Hepatitis B is spread through contact with the
blood or bodily fluids of an infected person.
Hepatitis C is passed primarily through blood to
blood contact. Relatively commonplace activities
such as having sex, sharing personal products,
getting tattoos, piercings, manicures,
pedicures, etc can put you at risk for
contracting hepatitis B or C. Hepatitis A and B
are the only forms of hepatitis preventable by
vaccine.
As the body's clearinghouse
for most drugs, herbal remedies, and vitamins,
the liver is vulnerable to the toxic
consequences of over-medicating. For adults, the
recommended dosage of acetaminophen is 650 mg to
1,000 mg every 4 to 6 hours as required. Never
exceed 4,000 mg (4 g) daily (or within a 24 hour
period). Children's dosage varies according to
their age and body weight. Recommended doses of
acetaminophen are also lower for people with
liver disease or people who are on other
medications that could interact with
acetaminophen. Please read labels of all
medications carefully and make sure you do not
exceed the daily allowed dose of acetaminophen.
An accidental overdose can be life-threatening.
Many medications or herbal remedies can cause
liver toxicity (a.k.a toxic hepatitis) which
could lead to complete liver failure and the
need for liver transplant. Before taking or
combining prescription or over-the-counter
medications, herbal or vitamin supplements,
always consult your doctor or pharmacist. If
your doctor prescribes a long-term medication,
ask to have your liver tested before, and
during, the treatment to determine if your liver
is ok.
Though some studies show fiber consumption has
little or no effect on the incidence of colon
cancer, high-fiber foods, such as fruits and
vegetables, usually contain many other vitamins
and nutrients that may reduce your risk of
cancer and other diseases.
Liver disease is
stereotypically linked in people's minds to
alcohol and drugs, but the truth is that there
are over 100 known forms of liver disease caused
by a variety of factors including viruses,
obesity and genetics. Only one form of liver
disease is directly caused by alcohol. Fatty
Liver disease linked to obesity is actually the
most rapidly increasing form of liver disease
affecting an estimated 1.4 million Canadians.
Liver disease is often seen
as an adult problem but in reality 1 in 10
Canadians -- including children ranging in age
from a few days old to their teens -- is
affected by some form of liver disease. Certain
forms of liver disease are diagnosed primarily
in children (e.g. biliary atresia) while others
are seen mostly in adults (e.g. liver cancer,
primary biliary cirrhosis, gallstones).
As far as your liver is
concerned, the type of alcohol (beer, wine etc.)
isn't what matters but rather the amount of
alcohol consumed. One "drink" is the equivalent
of either: 12 oz. (341 ml) beer, 5 oz. (142 ml)
wine, 3 oz. (86 ml) sherry or port, 1 ½ oz. (43
ml) spirits. Women, however, are at a
disadvantage because their bodies absorb more
alcohol from each drink then men which leaves
them more vulnerable to alcohol's toxic effects,
including cirrhosis.
Because the liver plays a
critical role in regulating the body's mineral,
vitamin, nutrient and energy levels, if it is
not functioning properly it could lead to other
serious health conditions or may affect your
ability to treat other ailments. For example, if
you have liver disease, you may not be able to
take cholesterol-lowering medications, blood
thinners or drugs to manage other health
conditions.
A liver transplant is often
the treatment of last resort for liver disease
patients. When a patient's liver is so badly
damaged that it can no longer perform its
critical functions, transplantation is often the
only hope. Unfortunately, some forms of liver
disease such as hepatitis B or C has the
potential to re-infect a newly transplanted
liver. In addition, the waiting period for a
liver transplant can be up to two years and some
patients do not survive the wait. By funding
liver research, the Canadian Liver Foundation
hopes to one day find cures - or ways to prevent
- all forms of liver disease so transplants will
no longer be necessary. In the meantime, you can
help by signing your organ donor card and
talking to your family about organ donation.
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