World Liver Day 2017: Understanding Liver Health and Diseases

By Dr. Jitendra Agrawal in General Surgery GI Surgery Liver Transplant Gastroenterology

Apr 19, 2017

World Liver Day 2024: Understanding Liver Health and Diseases

On April 19th each year, World Liver Day raises awareness about liver-related diseases and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy liver. As the body’s second largest organ, the liver plays crucial roles in digestion, immunity, metabolism, and nutrient storage. However, it is vulnerable to damage if not cared for properly.

Common Liver Diseases

1. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Accumulation of liver fat without alcohol consumption, leading to cirrhosis and complications like liver failure and cancer.
2. Hepatitis C: Viral infection causing liver inflammation, transmitted through blood transfusions and needles, with symptoms including fever and fatigue.
3. Hepatitis B: Serious liver infection preventable by vaccine, causing symptoms such as nausea, jaundice, and fatigue.
4. Cirrhosis: Liver cell loss and scarring due to causes like hepatitis B and C or alcohol abuse, resulting in jaundice, weakness, and itching.
5. Alcoholic Hepatitis: Inflammatory liver injury from heavy alcohol consumption, presenting symptoms like fever and liver function impairment.
6. Hepatitis A: Contagious liver infection spread through contaminated food or close personal contact, with symptoms resembling flu-like illness.

Maintaining Liver Health

Dr. Jitendra Agarwal advises maintaining liver health through proper diet, regular exercise, lifestyle modifications, and avoiding alcohol. A healthy liver supports overall well-being by regulating glucose, fat, protein, and cholesterol metabolism.

Take Action on World Liver Day

On 17 April 2017, take proactive steps to raise awareness, get tested for liver infections, and seek timely treatment to prevent unnecessary deaths from preventable liver diseases.