10 Habits That Indicate Future Liver Damage

By Dr. P. Kar in Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endoscopy

Feb 22 , 2018 | 3 min read

The liver is one of the most crucial and largest organs of the human body, accomplishing over 500 essential functions including cleansing the blood, eliminating toxins, storing minerals and vitamins, and transforming nutrients into energy.

There exist a number of bad habits that individuals indulge in their everyday routine which may increase the risk of liver damage. An individual may not even realize it, but liver damage can be gradual and may go unnoticed without any symptoms. But over time, these bad habits can severely harm the liver. This is a critical situation, as the body is unable to function well without a healthy liver.

Dr. P. Kar, Director and HOD – Gastroenterology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali describes a few habits that can damage the liver:

Excessive Alcohol

Heavy alcohol consumption is the most leading cause of liver damage. An excess amount of alcohol reduces the liver’s capability of removing toxins from the body. It may also lead to an increase in red blood cell volume which affects an individual’s overall health.

This happens because the liver gets sidetracked from its primary function while focusing solely on converting alcohol to a reduced toxic form, which as a result leads to inflammation and fatty liver disease.

Not Drinking Enough Water

A person is supposed to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. While it might seem like a lot, the human body is composed of approximately 66% of water. If the liver is dehydrated, it also tends to lose its longevity and is unable to care for the rest of the body.

Overuse of Medications

The function of the liver is to break down anything an individual consumes, including herbs, supplements, and medications. Consuming too much of certain medications can progressively harm the liver. The damage can vary from mild to complete liver failure.

Smoking

Cigarette smoke is one habit which affects the liver indirectly. The toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke gradually reach the liver, leading to oxidative stress. As a result, the liver starts producing free radicals which can harm the liver cells.

Checkout: 5 Reasons Why Smoking is Bad For Your Lungs

Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation has some astounding dangers including that it can cause oxidative stress to the liver. It has been concluded that people who suffer from sleep deprivation also suffer from an extensive range of health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and more.

Eating Excessive Processed Foods

Consuming high quantities of processed foods, which are often loaded with additives, preservatives, and flavorings expose the liver to damage. This is because these food products are challenging to break down for the liver as they consist of various chemicals.

Too Much Sugar in Diet

The main issue lies with high fructose, which is present in foods like bread, ice cream, juices, and sodas. While the majority of the cells in the human body can metabolize glucose, only the liver cells are able to handle fructose. If a person consumes too much fructose over time, the liver can suffer irreparable damage.

Engaging in Unsafe Sex

Having unsafe sex, mainly with multiple partners, could be a more significant danger to the health of the liver than a person may think. The most significant risk is that a person could contract hepatitis because of this. Hepatitis C is a potentially deadly liver ailment that can be sexually transmitted.

Being Overly Frustrated or Stressed

Excessive and prolonged stress is unhealthy for many reasons, and possibly for the liver. According to experts, there is a possible link between increased levels of psychological distress and deaths caused by several liver diseases.

Not Getting Enough Exercise

People who do not exercise or do not engage in physical activities are more prone to suffer from a liver disease. During exercise, the body’s pores are opened, and perspiration is improved, which helps to promote detoxification. This not only benefits the liver but works in tandem with it to detoxify the body.

As a multi-functional organ, the liver is vulnerable to the effects of a highly processed diet, stress, and toxins. However, antioxidant-boosting herbs, along with a diet rich in vegetables can eventually improve the health of the liver. We at Max Healthcare, provide one of the best treatments for liver failure. For a liver patient, the key to a healthy life is to find the right habits that can be inculcated in everyday routine.