Do you even know where I am in your body? Do you even know what I do for you? Probably not…….until I stop working and it becomes obvious to you.
I am underneath your rib cage in the upper right side of your belly. I have many functions like: breaking down fat in the food that you eat, making and regulating many proteins in the body for essential body functions, including immune functions, storing some excess vitamins and minerals and excess iron and sugar (glucose) to be used in the future, clearing the blood of many toxins, bacteria and poisonous substances and regulating blood clotting.
Here are the things that you do that damage me:
- Eat high fat foods and gain weight, which causes fat to deposit in the liver which hurts me. This is called FATTY LIVER DISEASE and this is a real thing
- Drink too much alcohol or use drugs (including some medications) which hurts me.
So………here is what you can do to keep me healthy:
- Lose excess body fat by engaging in nutritious eating and getting regular exercise
- Minimize excess intake of alcohol and avoid chemicals and street drugs, including intravenous drug use, which transmits infections
- Get checked for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C with a blood test. Both of these viruses can be sexually transmitted. You can have the viruses in your body for many decades and not know it. These viruses damage the liver and cause you to have an increased risk of LIVER CIRRHOSIS AND LIVER CANCER
- Talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated against Hepatitis B
I am your liver. Do not ignore me. When you take care of me, I can take care of you.
Love,
Your Liver