Dr Bharani

Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist,

Apollo Hospitals, Secunderabad

The liver is the second largest & most important organ in the human body, which functions to remove all harmful chemicals like drugs and toxins, and helps in digestion, acts like a store house for vitamins, minerals and other related factors.

World Liver Day is observed on 19 April every year to raise awareness of the importance of liver health and its impact on overall health and wellbeing.

The liver can be affected most commonly by hepatitis viruses, alcohol, drugs, and most importantly in the present day scenario by obesity and diabetes, where it is categorized under NAFLD-non alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fatty liver can progress to more severe liver disease called cirrhosis which in turn can lead to liver cancer.

There may be no symptoms in early stages of liver disease, but generally can present with weakness, loss of appetite, and in advanced cases jaundice can occur.

Getting tested for hepatitis viruses & getting vaccinated for the same, stopping alcohol consumption, adequate control of diabetes, minimizing oily food intake, regular consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables and regular exercising to control weight, taking your doctor’s advice before consuming any medicines which can potentially harm the liver are few strategies to prevent liver damage.