Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 11-19-21

Health
The liver is one of the most vital organs in the human body. Sitting just below the rib cage, the liver is responsible for criti- cal functions like iron and sugar metabolism, even as far as pro- ducing protein.
The liver’s size is no larger than a regulation size football. Unfortunately, the liver can go bad. Liver damage can result from several factors—both man- made, and inherited. From obe- sity, to alcohol abuse, to viruses, a lot could be behind a malfunc- tioning liver. Sustained liver damage could ultimately result in cirrhosis. Such liver scarring can be fatal, especially triggering acute liver failure.
When it gets to these ex- tremes, the individual loses his
liver function. This is otherwise known as a fulminant hepatic failure. This condition can result in further complications like am- plified brain pressure and exces- sive bleeding. Treatment for liver damage—or, ultimately, acute liver failure—depends largely upon the cause. The good news is if liver damage is de- tected early enough, the patient has increased chances of win- ning the battle. Commonly, to fully restore a liver after failure, a transplant could the best way to go.
Having established the im- portance of early testing, you should be curious about which symptoms strongly suggest liver damage. Liver damage (or acute liver failure) can manifest in
symptoms like jaundice (wherein the patient’s eyes or skin yellows), swelling of the ab- domen, vomiting and nausea, drowsiness, malaise, confusion, tremors or even pain in the upper right abdomen. How about we explore some of the major causes of liver damage?
The Causes Of Liver Damage:
Excessive Vitamin A in- take from supplements
Your body loves vitamin A, but the source matters. The body covets vitamin A accrued from natural plant sources like veg- etables and fresh fruit. However, Vitamin A derived from supple- ment sources is not equally healthy. Specifically, an exces- sive intake of such vitamin A from supplements can be injuri- ous to your liver. And how? Vita- min A is predominantly stored in the liver. With increased in- take, vitamin A content would accumulate there, causing more toxicity. This is termed hypervi- taminosis A.
This condition’s effect de- pends upon how much Vitamin A is accumulated in the liver and
how fast. An extravagant con- sumption of provitamin A like beta-carotene can trigger the yellowing of the skin and dizzi- ness.
Excessive Intake Of Sugar
Yes, excessive sugar intake will damage your teeth, but that is not where the devastation ends. Such a lavish intake of sugar can go as far as hurting your liver. Fructose is one crucial sugar type that the liver utilizes in the production of fat. But when it gets too much—espe- cially in high-fructose corn syrup or refined sugar—there is fat ac- cumulation. This can result in liver disease.
Studies are pointing to sugar having almost the same destruc- tive impact on the liver as alco- hol. This is regardless of the patient being overweight. There- fore, it is wise to cut down on yummy intakes like pastries, soda and other high-sugar foods
Too Much Weight
It is true, Hollywood glorifies six-pack abs and all of that con- temporary fitness frenzy. But it is not only Hollywood; even your liver cherishes fitness too. An ex-
cessive buildup of fats in your liver cells is not good news. When fats start collecting in your liver, there is a heightened risk of suffering non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Conse- quently, this could trigger liver swelling, culminating in scarred or hardened liver tissue. This condition is termed cirrhosis.
No body shaming, but over- weight people have higher chances of suffering NAFLD down the line. But of course, a deliberate reversal to healthy di- eting and exercise could save you from the disease.
Acetaminophen Can Damage Your Liver
Acetaminophen is famously used in treating headaches, backaches, colds, toothaches and even menstrual pain. When taken precisely in line with rec- ommendation, acetaminophen does no damage to your liver. People with liver disease can safely take acetaminophen so long as they stick to the dosage from certified health providers.
Soft Drinks Damage Your Liver
Yes, you read that right: Soft drinks may not be too soft on your liver! According to the Daily Telegraph, just consuming two soft drinks daily will damage your liver for the long term. An insightful study shows that “fizzy” drinks can even rival the detrimental impact of alcohol on your liver. This study establishes that sustained consumption of soft drinks with significant sugar content can increase the chances of suffering fatty liver disease.
Acetaminophen only dam- ages the liver when it is taken in excess. Never take even the smallest dosage of acetamino- phen more than directed, re- gardless of the lack of improvement in your fever or pain.
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2021