Your liver (From Salisbury Journal)

Your liver

12:59pm Tuesday 14th November 2006 in

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Your liver lies in the upper right-hand side of your abdomen, tucked for protection under the lower ribs. It is of enormous importance to hundreds of the biological processes that keep us alive and well.

These include processing digested food, fighting infection, making blood clotting factors and balancing levels of fats and sugar.

Whilst the liver has a reputation for its ability to regenerate itself when damaged this capacity is limited, and with just one such vital part of our body we would do well to look after it. When the liver becomes sick it is usually accompanied by inflammation which is called Hepatitis. Common causes include virus infection and excess alcohol.

The Hepatitis viruses are A (associated with poor hygiene), B (usually sexually transmitted or from the sharing of needles by injecting drug users) and C (usually from the sharing of needles by injecting drug users).

Hepatitis B and C are able to cause long term infection and along with excess alcohol severe damage so awareness allowing prevention, early diagnosis and treatment are all important.There is currently a worrying increase in cases of Hepatitis B and C and alcohol related liver disease.

Safe alcohol drinking limits are thought to be no more than 21 units per week (and no more than 4 in any one day) for men, and no more than 14 units per week (and no more than 3 in any one day) for women, unless pregnant when only 1-2 units up to twice a week is advised in order to protect the unborn baby. One unit approximates to half a pint of ordinary strength beer or just 80ml of ordinary strength wine; this is less than a small glass (125ml).

For more information you could visit the following web sites:
The British liver trust: www.britishlivertrust.org.uk
Hepatitis C awareness: www.hepc.nhs.uk
Recommended safe limits of alcohol: