Health–Avoid fast food, alcohol, sedentary life style, Fortis doctor tells young adults on World Hepatitis Day

July 28, 2018

By India News Stream Staff

New Delhi: Young adults were today cautioned against frequent consumption of fast food and alcohol, and lack of physical activity, which are the major causes of liver cirrhosis.

A majority of young working professionals, who are not bound by working hours, frequently indulge in alcohol, regularly indulge in fast food and have no time to exercise may develop a condition called ‘Fatty Liver’ which may progress to cirrhosis, says Dr Rakesh Rai, head of the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation at Fortis Hospital, Mulund.

Liver diseases are known to be amongst the top 10 causes of death in India. of these, cirrhosis is a progressive disease that involves loss of liver cells and permanent damage or scaring of the liver tissue, Dr Rai said in an article on the World Hepatitis Day on Saturday.

The Liver is one of the largest glands in the system and it carries out multiple complex functions. These include helping in digestion of fat, synthesis of important proteins, regulating the blood clotting system, removal of toxic waste and managing blood glucose level

The average age of patient who develops Cirrhosis may be between the age group of 40-45yrs, however it is seen that many younger patients are now developing liver disease due to alcohol abuse, unhealthy diet and lack of exercise.

An individual with Liver Cirrhosis might have very few or no symptoms and signs of the disease. Some of the common signs and symptoms are loss of appetite yellowing of the skin (Jaundice), fatigue & weakness, Itching, easy bruising, fluid accumulation in abdomen (Ascites) swelling in the legs, loss of muscle mass.

Besides consumption of alcohol, fast food and sedentary life style, non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) usually associated with Obesity & Diabetes, Chronic Viral Hepatitis B & C , Autoimmune Hepatitis and Inherited disorders (genetic) may also lead to liver cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a stage where the liver is already damaged. The two stages involved in Liver Cirrhosis are: Compensated Cirrhosis- Here the damage caused to the liver can be compensated through healthy Liver cells, which means these cells are enough to improve the condition of the damaged cells without any complications. Patient may not have any symptom or signs.

The other stage is Decompensated Cirrhosis- This is a stage when cirrhotic liver starts causing problem like – fluid accumulation in legs and abdomen, jaundice, cancer in liver, blood vomiting, confuison . Average survival once patient develops decompensated liver cirrhosis is 1.5 years.