The liver is the largest organ and one of the most important organs in the body. The liver produces bile – a substance needed to digest fats, detoxifies the blood to rid it of harmful substances such as alcohol and drugs, stores the sugar glucose and breaks down haemoglobin as well as insulin and other hormones.
There are common habits we have that can cause damage to the liver and getting rid of these habits is really important.
Below are 4 common habits that damage the liver
1. SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Sleep deprivation causes damage to the liver. According to a 2014 study published in the December issue of Sleep, researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) discovered a link between sleep loss and liver damage.
A 2005 French study also linked problems with sleep to liver damage. The researchers from Paris’ Hopitale Saint-Antoine found that people with sleeping problems were more insulin-resistant and were more likely to have liver damage.
2. EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL
Drinking too much alcohol can have a negative impact on your liver. When our liver tries to break down alcohol, the resulting chemical reaction can damage its cells. This damage can lead to inflammation and scarring as the liver tries to repair itself. Alcohol consumption can damage our intestine which lets toxins from our gut bacteria get into the liver. These toxins can also lead to inflammation and scarring.
3. SMOKING
Smoking doesn’t just affect your lungs, it also affects your liver. According to a 2011 study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers from the US and Europe after studying 125 liver cancer patients found that almost half the cases of liver cancer in the study were associated with smoking. Though smoking by itself does not cause liver cancer, it dramatically increases the risk, especially for people who have other risk factors, such as hepatitis B or C virus.
4. OVERUSE OF MEDICATIONS
Consuming too much of certain medications can gradually harm the liver. Acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol) which is commonly available without prescription can cause liver damage if taken too much at once or if a high dose of it is taken continuously over several days. Certain herbal remedies and natural supplements can cause damage to the liver if taken in excess amounts.
S.O.Z