Debunking Myths about Liver Damage

As a professional in the liver health industry, I always hear many myths. One misconception is that liver damage is because of drinking too much alcohol. While consuming much alcohol does make people more susceptible to liver diseases, there is another common reason for liver damage that many people don’t know.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver damage results mainly from too much fat being stored in the liver. Symptoms are hard to recognize, causing it to go undetected for a long time in many cases. When left untreated, it could progress into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (swelling of the liver) or cirrhosis (significant liver scarring), liver failure, and liver cancer.

Many people who don’t drink (much) alcohol think they are safe from liver damage. But liver disease can develop in those who drink and those who don’t.

Myth 1: You can’t protect yourself against liver damage

I am a big believer in protecting yourself against liver damage by following a certain lifestyle and basic knowledge. Here are some ways to protect yourself:

• Limit alcohol consumption. As I wrote before, moderate alcohol consumption is generally viewed as two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Drinking alcohol in moderation helps you in preventing liver damage.
• Watch your weight. Eat healthily and incorporate liver-friendly foods. Exercise regularly to decrease your risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
• Be aware of risk factors. The following risk factors are important to know. When any of these applies to you, it is important to get a screening done regularly, as liver diseases can be silent for years and go unrecognized.
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Liver diseases run in the family.

Myth 2: Obesity does not affect the risk of liver disease

As I mentioned before, many people don’t realize the effect of obesity on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease risk. The liver can cause inflammation, which can lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis development. So besides limiting alcohol, it is just as important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

Myth 3: Liver damage is permanent.

This is a common misconception and could not be further from the truth. The liver has the unique ability to bounce back after injury. In fact, if you remove half of your liver, your liver will regenerate almost entirely within a matter of months. So by following the tips I mentioned above, you can reverse liver damage.

Myth 4: Cirrhosis only comes from heavy drinking

Like I said before, while alcohol overconsumption could be one of the most common reasons for liver damage, many other factors contribute to an unhealthy liver.

Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring of the liver caused by liver diseases. This scarring can be caused by many things, like hepatitis B or C. Or, as mentioned before, obesity, since cirrhosis is the end stage of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.