Liver disease has many causes and last month, March was Liver Disease Awareness month in Canada.
Yes, Canada. That country with the handsomest Prime Minister… ever. (*Sigh*) But I digress. In the spirit of international cooperation, let’s help raise awareness for liver diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) worldwide.
Most people think that the main cause of liver disease is alcoholism, but that’s a misconception. NASH says “nonalcoholic” right in its name. Some people can drink a boatload of alcoholic beverages over an extended period of time and because their livers metabolize the toxin efficiently, their livers escape unscathed. While others, drinking the same amount, go on to develop cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. As in everything, the key to imbibing is moderation.
Another cause is the hepatitis virus, particularly hepatitis C. People infected with Hep C can live for decades without any symptoms, and may not even know they carry the virus. Then, boom. They develop liver diseases like cancer and/or cirrhosis. Today, Hep C can be cured–so if you think you may have been exposed, ask your doctor to be tested. Incidentally, Vietnam vets are at a greater risk for having this particular virus for a variety of reasons.
The liver has a big job. It clears all the toxins from the body. When the bile ducts become scarred, other forms of liver disease can develop. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, also called NASH–which has nothing to do with alcohol consumption, by the way–is one of those complications. Certain health conditions—including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes—make you more likely to develop NAFLD and NASH.
On the holistic side of things, many people believe milk thistle is an effective treatment for liver disease. This may or may not be true, so if you are having liver problems, talk to your doctor and find out what’s going on.
