A LOVE LETTER FROM YOUR LIVER

Dear Body, it is me your liver. I am very glad and sad writing you this letter. Before I begin to tell the main reason for writing this letter, I want to appreciate your efforts of keeping me in good condition. I am very grateful for the fact that anytime I am not well, you visit the hospital, seek medical advice and you begin treatment till I get well. Sometimes you do spend a lot of money, yet you do it anyways, thank you so much. Basically this letter is to inform you about the things you do or take into your body that affects me. Most of them seem like fun to you but at the end, I will be the one to suffer. Kindly read this letter and pay much attention to it, so that as you are growing old, I can grow healthy with you. I will first start by educating you on my function as an organ.

I am the largest solid organ in the body. I remove toxins from the body's blood supply, maintains healthy blood sugar levels, regulates blood clotting and performs hundreds of other vital functions. I am located in the upper right part of the belly (abdomen). I am beneath the diaphragm and on top of the stomach, right kidney and intestines. There are quiet a number of behaviours and practices that affect my ability to carry out my function. This, being the main reason, I am writing to you to abhor from these practices, so that I will be healthy to carry out my duties successfully.

1. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

I know you sometimes drink to have fun but drink in moderation. Drinking too much alcohol destroys the liver and leads to build-up of fats, liver scarring and inflammation. Each body has a different reaction and threshold to alcohol and what may be overuse for one person could cause no reaction in the other. Avoid taking alcohol but if you can not, drink it in moderation and limit the frequency of alcohol consumption.

2. SMOKING

Smoking does not only cause lung and heart diseases but can also have an enormous damage to the cells of the liver. The herculean amount of toxic chemicals in tobacco sparks inflammation in the body, which can eventually result in serious liver damage. Smoking also triggers the production of cytokines - chemicals which exacerbate inflammation and injury to the hepatic cells. So combining alcohol to smoking will only amplify the damaging effects on your liver.

3. BEING OVERWEIGHT/ OBESITY

Not putting your weight to check has become one major health issue. When extra fats build up in your liver cells, it leads to non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) resulting in swelling of the liver. This could also lead to insulin resistance that triggers an excess of fatty tissue and fatty acids that affect liver health.

4. LACK OF EXERCISE/ SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE

Obesity and inactivity goes hand- in- hand. Exercise helps you lose additional weight and burn excess fats in your body. In the absence of exercise, the extra fat will keep on accumulating in your body, and around the liver leading to fatty liver disease. Burning calories also leads to perspiration which helps the body detoxify itself thus providing a helping hand to the liver. 

5. OVERUSE OF CERTAIN MEDICATIONS 

Medications and supplements can sometimes cause acute liver damage including acetaminophen, some antibiotics and pain killers like ibuprofen. When these medicines are taken into the body, metabolism (break down) of the drug is done by the liver. Usually damage to the liver occurs when you take a very high dose or mix these drugs with alcohol or other drugs. Cocaine, steroids and heroin can all cause liver damage.

6. EATING UNHEALTHY DIETS 

Your food choices can also have a great effect on your liver. Too much sugar, refined carbohydrates, salt and saturated fats can damage your liver cells. Avoid junk foods and include lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fibre and monosaturated fats  in your diet.

7. PRACTICING UNSAFE SEX

Infections like hepatitis can also cause a severe damage to your liver. Hepatitis can be transmitted through sexual contact and people who practice unsafe sex are at a higher risk of getting this infection.

8. DRINKING LESS AMOUNT OF WATER 

Proper detoxification of the body depends on the body's hydration status. Drinking less amounts of water will make the liver inefficient and later cause liver damage. 

All these and many more are the things you do that affect me greatly. Having said this, I would also inform you about some practices and measures that makes me stronger and healthier.

1. TAKING HEALTHY DIETS

One of the most important measures to protect your liver is by practicing better eating habits such as eating fibre-rich whole grains, choosing more lean meats and avoiding excess saturated and trans fats, added sugars and sodium.

2. HAVING REGULAR EXERCISE 

Regular exercise is great for liver health whether or not weight is an issue. Experts suggest a combination of aerobic exercise and weight training. Aerobic exercise can strengthen the cardiovascular system, which  supplies blood to the liver. Weight training can increase lean body mass and metabolism, which can prevent a build-up of excess fat in the liver. Exercise can also help circulate more anti- inflammatory agents in the body, which help maintain liver function.

3. FOLLOW MEDICATION INSTRUCTION LABELS

Read and follow the instruction labels on whatever drug or product you use. Do not take more than the recommended amount. If you have liver problems, you should check with your doctor before you take any new medicine, supplement or vitamin.

4. PRACTICE SAFE SEX

You want to protect yourself and your partner from conditions that can spread through sex, that can eventually cause damage to your liver. Unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners increases your risk of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. If you are not sure or have not been vaccinated against Hepatitis B, you should talk to your doctor about getting the vaccine. But even if you are vaccinated you should practice safe sex.

5. AVOID EXCESSIVE DRINKING OF ALCOHOL

It's unknown exactly how much alcohol leads to to liver disease, but medical experts do know that alcohol hurt the cells of the liver, causing inflammation, swelling and the build-up of scar tissue. If you have any form of chronic liver disease, no alcohol should be consumed, because the only safe amount is zero.

6. STOP SMOKING

As dangerous as alcohol, smoking is another leading cause of liver damage. Cigarette smoke has harmful toxins that can travel to the liver and in return deteriorate and damage it over time. Quitting smoking may help maintain the health of the liver.

Here are all the reasons I decided to write you this letter. You may be doing some of these practices out of ignorance, but after this letter, I have high hopes you will change in doing the things that affect me and be deliberate about how to keep me healthy. Thank you

REFERENCES

1. Health Central (2022) 8 lifestyle Changes to Make Now to Protect Your Liver.

2. Shivani C. (2021) How Can Your Lifestyle Affect Your Liver Health published by Society for Women's Health Research.

3. WebMD (2021) Visual Guide to Liver Problems medically reviewed by Minesh Khatri, MD

4. Nature's Best (n.d.) 6 Lifestyle Factors that Could be Affecting Your Liver Health.