New testing methods can check liver health without painful biopsies
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AJIJCHAN
With ‘World Liver Day’, having just gone by, this is the right time to talk about the body’s ‘master regulator’, playing key roles in food digestion, body metabolism and detoxification. Modern lifestyles and dietary habits are putting our liver under serious strain.
The liver also tries to cope and does not show any sign and symptoms of its illness till it has been destroyed largely. Liver diseases are often ‘silent’. Knowledge and early detection of liver injury helps.
Today, about 1.5 billion (150 crore) people suffer from chronic liver diseases worldwide, two million (20 lakh) die each year from liver problems. Liver cancer is amongst the fastest growing cancers and the third common cause of cancer deaths in the world. Most liver diseases are preventable and can be treated if recognised on time.
Almost 90 per cent of liver diseases are caused by three factors: alcohol, fat and viruses. Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) contributes now to 30-40 per cent of liver cirrhosis.
However, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), where surplus fat is deposited in the liver, has become the most common liver problem globally. High calories, saturated fats, free sugars, extra salt, and inadequate antioxidants play a role here.
Hope’s ahead
Despite these challenges, there is reason for hope. New testing methods can check liver health without painful biopsies. Doctors use special scans like fibro scan to spot problems earlier than ever before especially for fatty liver disease. Digital health apps can help people make the lifestyle changes needed to reverse early liver damage.
Our healthcare systems need to change to include liver check-ups a regular part of physical exams.
Our daily choices make a huge difference to your liver health, such as: avoiding alcohol; eating more natural, uncooked, whole foods and fewer processed items; eating a balanced diet rich in low sugar, fruits and coloured vegetables, and lean proteins; maintaining a healthy body weight; and vaccination against hepatitis A and B.
Heed to early warning signs
While early liver disease often has no symptoms, one should not ignore early warning signs like unexplained fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest; heaviness and pain in upper right side of abdomen; yellowing of the skin or eyes; dark urine or pale stool; or itchy skin, and easy bruising.
The government has launched the National Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Programme, besides issuing guidelines for NAFLD under its programme for non-communicable diseases.
The liver deserves care at every stage.
The writer is Director, ILBS, New Delhi
Published on April 20, 2025
