What about medications and supplements?

Unregulated remedies may contain high-dose steroids, painkillers, and toxic elements that can damage the liver. Anti-tuberculosis medications need to be given with close monitoring. Allopathic and non-allopathic medications can be toxic to the liver. Self-medication should be avoided as far as possible.

What about industrial toxins and chemicals?

We must reduce exposure to pesticides, smoking, and industrial chemicals as they can harm liver cells.

Do vaccinations help?

Affordable vaccination against hepatitis A and B virus are available. Please get them, particularly if you need to take food or injections outside your usual health care system. Hotel food or food from a common mess can cause hepatitis A outbreak. Vaccination against hepatitis E and C is not available.

What about regular health check-ups?

Routine liver function tests can help detect early liver disease. If you have diabetes, hypertension or chronic alcohol consumption get your liver function assessed every 6 months. Early liver disease may not have symptoms. Poor appetite, weight loss, prolonged fever, jaundice with itching and yellow eyes and urine should draw your attention to a possible liver ailment.

How to protect the liver?

Have a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. To prevent fatty liver, limit processed foods, refined sugars, and saturated fats to prevent fatty liver disease. Increasing intake of coffee, green tea, turmeric, garlic, and cruciferous vegetables may certainly help.

What about alcohol?

Chronic alcohol consumption is one of the most common causes of liver disease. Avoid it completely if you have liver disease. Do not cross the recommended limits.

Is a normal weight necessary to prevent fatty liver?

Obesity and insulin resistance contribute to fatty liver disease. Regular exercise and a healthy weight prevent this. Physical activity reduces fat accumulation in the liver and improves insulin sensitivity.

Do metabolic disorders affect liver health?

Control diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels to prevent liver complications.

Author: Dr Jay Deshmukh

Dr Jay Deshmukh is Chief Physician and Director, Sunflower Hospital, Nagpur Honorary Physician to Honorable Governor of Maharashtra and PondicherryCentral. Dr Jay Deshmukh is an M.B.B.S., M.C.P.S., F.C.P.S., M.N.A.M.S., MD From Internal Medicine – Bombay and New Delhi.