World Liver Day 2023: Liver diseases are a significant cause of premature death and disability in India. Liver diseases in India alone contributed to 18.3 per cent of the two million global liver disease-related deaths in 2015, implying how significant the burden of liver disease in the country is, according to the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since 1980, the contribution of cirrhosis and its complications, collectively called chronic liver diseases, as causes of morality in India has been increasing progressively.
Liver diseases are characterised by different symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, joint pain and weakness, among others.
So, a question arises about whether healthy people should get their liver tested even if they do not exhibit symptoms of liver disease.
According to experts, even healthy people should get their liver tested, especially if they have a family history of liver disease or consume drugs that may harm the liver. They recommend routine liver testing to prevent severe liver damage in the future.
“Even healthy people should think about getting their liver checked. Before symptoms appear, liver function testing can identify potential issues with the liver. This is crucial for anyone who has a family history of liver disease, drinks excessive amounts of alcohol, or takes drugs that may harm the liver. In order to preserve general health and prevent severe liver damage, routine liver testing is recommended,” Dr Abhai Singh, Senior Consultant of Gastroenterologist, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, told ABP Live.
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Blood tests, liver function tests and ultrasound scans of the abdomen can help assess liver functions. Since fatty liver disease has become very common due to the westernisation of society, it is important to keep in check the amount of fat in the liver.
“The liver is a very vital organ. Everyone should routinely and regularly check their liver function tests, even if the person is healthy. So, liver functions can be assessed easily by doing some simple tests, like a simple blood test, liver function test and an ultrasound of the abdomen. These can reveal details about the health of the liver. Due to the westernisation of society nowadays, fatty liver disease is very common. So, one should be very cautious about detecting the fat content of the liver and perform the liver function test regularly to prevent the occurrence of advanced liver disease because of the fatty liver,” Dr Anukalp Prakash, Lead Consultant, Gastroenterology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram told ABP Live.
Every person, regardless of whether they are healthy or not, must get their liver checked periodically as part of standard health examinations, according to experts. However, it is important to keep in mind that abnormal liver test results are not always indicative of liver disease.
“The liver is a critical organ that is essential for metabolism regulation, protein production, and bodily detoxification. It should be noted that abnormal liver test results do not always indicate that a person has liver disease, and additional testing may be required to determine the underlying cause of any abnormalities. To determine whether liver testing is appropriate for an individual's specific situation, it is always best to consult with a healthcare professional,” Varun Sheth, Co-founder, and CEO of Ketto India, told ABP Live.
According to Dr Preet Pal Thakur, Co-Founder Glamyo Health, healthy people may benefit from liver tests if they have a family history of liver disease or other risk factors. This includes excessive consumption of alcohol.
Therefore, everyone should get their liver tested regularly in order to detect any warning signs, if any, in advance, and prevent the development of future liver disease.