April 19 is marked as World Liver Day because the liver is one of the largest organs of the body, and a very vital one at that.
The size of the liver is like that of a football and weighs approximately 1.5kg in a 70kg man.
The liver is located on the upper right side of the abdomen, behind the lower ribs where it is protected to carry out its life sustaining functions.
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Whatever gets into our body through the mouth like food, alcohol, medicine, chemicals etc passes through the liver to be filtered.
The liver is an intelligent organ. It identifies bad or unhealthy substances in whatever we consume and removes it from the body through urine or stool.
It is also an important storehouse for nutrients which it dispenses to the body when needed.
The liver also produces cholesterol, bile and proteins which are very necessary for the body to function properly.
Your liver deserves more care
There are different activities that can increase the chances of damaging one’s liver resulting in a liver disease.
Drinking a lot of alcohol over a long period is a common cause of liver disease, being overweight or obesity, Hepatitis B and C infections and diabetes are known risk factors.
Others include exposure to certain chemicals, drugs, and environmental toxins like aflatoxins (found in contaminated peanuts and corn), vinyl chloride (used in plastics manufacturing), and certain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) can damage the liver and increase the risk of liver disease.
Thus, maintaining a healthy lifestyle cannot be overemphasized. Ensure you have regular check-ups with a doctor to monitor liver health, and to discuss any concerns or symptoms with your doctor.
Warning signs that your liver may be at risk include: Jaundice – yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, abdominal pain, and swelling of the body.
There is also fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhoea or constipation, or pale or clay-colored stools, itching and Mental changes like confusion, memory loss, or personality changes.
Keep your liver healthy, you don’t want it diseased.
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Aproko Doctor Reveals How Brain Tumor Almost Made Him Blind
In another story, Chinonso Egemba popularly known as Aproko Doctor has revealed how he fought a brain tumor in December, 2022.
The popular doctor disclosed that the health challenge almost made him blind in his left eye.
He also indicated that he was able to live to tell the story after a successfully done surgery by another doctor named Tayo Ojo.
