By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Have you ever worried about your liver? Most people would answer "no" unless they're heavy drinkers. Rather, they're concerned about a possible heart attack, stroke, cancer and other problems. It's an ironic situation since the liver, one of the most complicated organs in the body, is the most abused. What does it do? And why is it wise not to love your liver too late.
Public opinion polls reveal that most people know practically nothing about their liver. Yet every day the human liver performs over 5,000 chores.
One major function is to manufacture 1,000 milligrams (mg.) of cholesterol. This comes as a big surprise for most people who believe they only obtain cholesterol from food. It's a major reason why lowering cholesterol in the body by minor changes in diet is so difficult.
The liver regulates carbohydrate metabolism, produces bile that aids in the digestion of fats, bolsters our immune system, filters out bacteria and removes toxins, chemicals, alcohol, tobacco from the body.
The liver is also the storehouse for vitamins, B12, A, D, E and K and the mineral iron. It converts glucose, the blood's sugar, into glycogen and stores it until it's needed for energy by the body. And without the liver there would be no plasma proteins to enable the blood to clot.
Every year 700,000 North Americans develop liver disease. This often comes as a shock. A failing heart usually has some warning signs such as fatigue, shortness of breath or chest pain.
The liver, however, is a non-complaining organ. It has the ability to carry out it's tasks even when it is largely diseased. Patients with serious liver disease are often unaware that it's the lull before the storm.
One special risk is rarely mentioned. The consumption of acetaminophen (Tylenol) with alcohol can cause fatal liver failure due to toxicity. This can occur when a heavy drinker exceeds the recommended dosage of Tylenol.
Dr. Hyman J. Zimmerman, a retired professor at George Washington University remarked, "My impression is that if somebody takes two to three drinks a day, he should be careful about Tylenol."
Other drugs such as quinidine, naproxen, indomethacin can also damage the liver when mixed with alcohol. And chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride can be toxic to the liver.
There are many ways to "love your liver". A first step is to use alcoholic drinks in moderation. For men the recommended daily maximum is two bottles of beer, 3 ounces of liquor or 6 ounces of wine. Women should take half this amount as they metabolize alcohol less efficiently.
Excessive amounts of alcohol damage liver cells and cause cirrhosis. The scar tissue that forms around the cells interferes with normal liver function.
Be sure to consult your doctor before taking large doses of iron or vitamin A. And never mix alcohol with prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
Be careful not to inhale aerosol sprays, insecticides and other chemicals or get them on your skin.
Protect your liver from infection. Hepatitis A is transmitted by sewage contaminated food and drink. It is sometimes fatal in older travellers.
Today large numbers of North Americans are infected with hepatitis B. This is a virus which is spread by sexual contact, infected blood, saliva and contaminated needles.
One third of patients infected with this virus have no symptoms. Fatigue may be the first and only warning that the liver is ill.
But hepatitis B is a serious condition with one percent of patients dying when it results in either cirrhosis or liver cancer. Others suffer from fever, muscle and joint pain, fatigue and jaundice, a yellowing of the skin.
Hepatitis A and B are the two most common vaccine preventable diseases among travellers. There are individual vaccines against hepatitis A (Havrix) and hepatitis B (Engerix B) that provide long-term protection.
A new combination product called Twinrix provides dual protection against hepatitis A and B. Twinrix and the pediatric format Twinrix Junior can be given to anyone one year of age and up. Twinrix requires fewer injections and is an economical alternative to receiving the two individual vaccines.
Ask your doctor about these vaccines if you're a traveller, in a high risk profession that exposes you to blood or have more than one sexual partner. And all newborns should be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
W. Gifford-Jones M.D is the pen name of Dr. Ken Walker graduate of Harvard. Dr. Walker's website is: Docgiff.com
My book, �90 + How I Got There� can be obtained by sending $19.95 to:
Giff Holdings, 525 Balliol St, Unit # 6,Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1E1
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