Get to know your liver...

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Myths of Liver Disease

There are many misconceptions of liver disease.  Here are some common myths:

1)  Only alcoholics are at risk of getting liver disease.         

Liver disease can affect all age groups.  There are over 100 types of liver disease, of which alcohol is only one cause. 

2) If you don't participate in high risk behaviours, you're home safe.  

Liver disease can result from an unhealthy diet, cancers, viral infections, genetic defects or simply transmitted from mother to child.  

3)  A liver transplant is the ultimate solution.

Sometimes the transplanted liver is rejected by the patient’s body.  Even if it passes that test, it may become infected by still-circulating levels of virus (Hepatitis C).  Considering the number of people affected by liver disease, this is NOT a viable solution.  

Facts

• The liver performs over 500 functions but is vulnerable to more than 100 different diseases. 
• 1 in 10 people are currently living with chronic hepatitis B or C. 
• There are 10 times more people worldwide affected by hepatitis B than with AIDS.
• What’s scary…most people don’t know they have it. 
• 600,000 Canadians are affected by hepatitis B or C.

Liver Health Risks

There are many risk factors for liver disease, including, but not limited to:

• Using drugs
• Getting a tattoo or piercing
• Abusing alcohol
• Having unprotected sex
• Mixing drugs and alcohol
• Sharing personal items (e.g., a toothbrush)
• Playing contact sports (i.e., open wounds)
• Drinking contaminated water
• Being overweight

Liver Health for Youth

Being young means trying lots of things for the first time. But what you need to realize is that the choices you make today could end up damaging your liver. The fact is there are certain activities that do carry inherent liver health risks – sex, tattoos, piercings, drugs, alcohol and even what you eat. One experiment, one spur-of-the-moment decision, and you could end up suffering the consequences for the rest of your life. 

Your liver is critical to life-long health so it makes sense to treat it well. The following site can give you valuable information on how to protect your liver in your day-to-day life so it's worth your while to check them out and tell your friends.