10 Vital Tips That Protect Liver Health

A problem in the liver, which can also be defined as the body’s factory, can lead to life-threatening pictures. Read on to see our recommendations for protecting liver health.

Apart from congenital diseases, liver problems that occur in adults can be prevented by paying attention to some points. Producing the proteins needed by the body for the survival of life, obtaining energy by processing foods, producing the bile required for the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, and ensuring their flow to the intestine, synthesizing the coagulation factors that play a very important role in blood clotting, The liver emerges as a vital organ, with functions such as fighting infections by helping to eliminate bacteria and rendering almost all harmful chemicals that enter the body harmless. One of the most important features of the liver, which has more functions than other organs, is its ability to regenerate. In this case, it is of great importance to avoid behaviors that will damage the liver that can protect and heal sufficiently and to have routine examinations to protect liver health.

Liver failure is life threatening

Hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis that can develop as a result of many diseases, long-term alcohol consumption, obstruction of some liver vessels, malnutrition, some biliary tract diseases, iron metabolism disorder, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and Wilson disease (copper metabolism disorder) causes chronic liver failure. Hepatitis caused by hepatitis A, B and C viruses, high doses of some drugs, reactions against various herbal medicines, and ingestion of poisonous mushrooms cause acute liver failure.

Liver failure is often life threatening and therefore requires immediate medical attention. The most common situation is the gradual deterioration of the sick liver and the development of failure over the years. This condition is called “chronic liver failure”. A less common situation is the development of liver failure within days-weeks in a person who is not known to have liver disease before. This picture is called “Acute liver failure”. In other words, every person can have liver disease at any age from the moment of birth, or in other words, liver failure can be seen in people of all ages.

The problem occurs later in adults

Liver failure is usually congenital in children and in adults, it occurs later. Liver failure may occur in children due to hereditary problems or due to some difficulties experienced by the mother during pregnancy. Congenital absence of bile ducts and metabolic diseases caused by the lack of some substances that perform the daily functions of the liver cause liver failure in children. If precautions are not taken, the only solution for the disease that causes children to die before the age of one is liver transplantation.

Liver failure in adults can be prevented by changing some habits or by paying attention to some points. For example, avoiding alcohol, eliminating eating habits that will tire the liver, maintaining weight control, protecting liver health and preventing liver diseases are among the steps to be taken.

Don’t ignore these 10 suggestions

• Do not neglect the hepatitis vaccine: One of the most important causes of liver failure is the risk of transmission of hepatitis viruses. It is known that 1.4 million people die every year from hepatitis B and hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis and cancer. However, both infections are easy to diagnose and treat. In addition, these viruses can be prevented by vaccination. People who do not protect themselves against infectious hepatitis viruses by vaccination can get Hepatitis B and C viruses without realizing it. If not vaccinated, each individual, first of all, adults should definitely have Hepatitis B and C tests, those with positive test results should consult a specialist, and if necessary, start treatment immediately. It should not be forgotten that hepatitis B and C viruses can be transmitted to people by people they do not know, through blood contaminated with tools that are not cared for, during shaving, dental treatment, and various treatments.
• Stay away from alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of liver diseases in the modern age. The liver starts to be damaged as soon as the alcohol rate determined by the World Health Organization is exceeded. Alcohol disrupts the quality of life over time, causing cirrhosis and liver failure. Organ transplantation is the only treatment for liver failure caused by cirrhosis.
• Be careful not to gain weight: People do not think about how to protect or harm their liver while they are healthy. When liver values start to rise, then miracle foods or drugs are sought to protect the livers. However, people can protect their liver without gaining excessive weight by eating regularly while they are healthy. Because irregular diet can cause fatty liver by causing excess weight. Fatty liver, which means accumulation of excess fat in liver cells, sometimes even excessively, may not show symptoms until cirrhosis stage. To prevent fatty liver, get help from nutrition and diet experts in order not to gain weight and to lose excess weight; each individual needs to exercise properly.

• Beware of poisonous mushrooms: Unconsciously consumed mushrooms can cause liver failure in every person. Many people die from mushroom poisoning every year. Since it is difficult to distinguish poisonous mushrooms from others, mushrooms collected from nature should not be consumed except for cultivated mushrooms.
• Do not neglect congenital diseases: Liver failure at a young age is congenital iron, copper and metabolism disorders. Early diagnosis is vital for liver failure that occurs at an early age due to genetic disorders. For this reason, those with such genetic diseases should not neglect their diseases by keeping their diseases under control.
• Do not use unnecessary antibiotics and painkillers: Drugs are metabolized and filtered in the liver, causing fatigue in the liver. In cases where some painkillers and antibiotics are used unnecessarily and frequently, except for the doctor’s recommendation, pictures up to liver failure may occur. Since psychiatry and epilepsy drugs may cause similar results, unnecessary drug use should be avoided without doctor’s control. In addition, prolonged exposure to agricultural or insecticides can also cause liver disorders.
• Be careful with herbal mixtures: Herbal mixtures sold on the internet and in the market may not be as innocent as you might think. Since the ingredients used in the herbal mixtures sold for various ailments are not fully known, they may bring negative results. These mixtures, which cause liver failure even in healthy people, can lead to complete organ failure in people with chronic liver disease.
• Heart diseases can affect the liver: Liver disorders can also be caused by different organs. In cases of heart failure, blood flow is impaired and contaminated blood can persist further in the liver. In such a situation, cardiac cirrhosis may develop. Depending on the longer it stays in the liver, a condition called “cardiac cirrhosis” may develop. Therefore, routine cardiological examinations are also important.

• The gall bladder is important: Gallstones may be ignored until the person goes to the emergency room. However, liver disorders may also occur in cases where gallstones obstruct the bile duct. In addition to these, diseases and genetic disorders that progress with the accumulation of copper and iron in the body can also cause liver diseases.
• Do not neglect routine blood tests: A number of special blood tests can determine whether the liver is functioning properly. Thanks to these tests, problems such as acute and chronic liver diseases, hepatitis, and biliary obstruction can be easily diagnosed. Whether there is a problem in the liver can be determined with values such as serum bilirubin, serum albumin, serum aminotansferase, promtobin time, Gamma – glutamyl transpeptidase, Alpha – fetoprotein (AFP), Mitochondrial Antibodies (AMA).

Dietary rules for liver patients

Various disorders occur in blood chemistry among chronic liver diseases, especially cirrhosis. In patients with chronic liver disease but not yet developing cirrhosis, a normal balanced diet is sufficient. These patients should avoid unnecessary drug use and especially alcohol. Cirrhosis patients need 50% more energy than other people.

• Liver patients need to use diuretics regularly and adjust the salt balance consumed.
• Rich in vitamins A and B, artichoke can slow the progression of liver disease due to its diuretic and antioxidant properties.
• Simple sugar foods such as tea sugar, chocolate, honey, jam, cola, soda should be consumed less.
• Instead of simple sugar-containing foods, foods containing compound sugar such as vegetables and legumes, dairy desserts, bulgur pilaf are recommended.
• Fast food, convenience store products, sausage, sausage, salami consumption should be avoided.
• In the meat group, 1 egg-sized meat is equivalent to an egg and 4 tablespoons of legumes. The change should be made accordingly.
• In the milk group, 1 glass of milk, a glass of yogurt, a matchbox of cheese and 2/3 matchbox cheddar cheese are equivalent. If you want to eat yogurt that day, the corresponding milk or cheese should be reduced.
• In the cereal group, it is equivalent to 2 slices of bread, 4 tablespoons of pasta, rice pilaf and bulgur pilaf.

End stage of liver failure should not be expected for transplant

Liver failure, which occurs as a result of irreversible damage to a large part of it due to various diseases, starts to impair the quality of life of the person by posing a life-threatening risk. For this reason, a transplant must be done before waiting for the last stage of liver failure. A person who knows that he / she has liver disease and perceives the daily problems he / she experiences due to liver disease, should evaluate his / her situation together with the experts in an organ transplant center as soon as possible and have a transplant from a living or cadaver at the appropriate time.