How to Prevent Liver Failure

The liver is a major body organ that is also the largest gland in the body. It carries out organ functions like metabolism, storing glycogen, decomposition of red blood cells (RBC), synthesizes plasma protein and detoxification of the body, which are all needed for a body to stay healthy and viable. As a gland, the liver produces and secrets bile which is needed for digestion. The importance of the liver is obvious, and this is why it is important to understand how we can prevent medical problems like liver failure. The key to prevention is to eliminate certain behaviors that put us at higher risk for other medical conditions like cirrhosis and hepatitis, which lead to a gradual deterioration of the liver.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Immunize yourself against hepatitis A and B. This can be accomplished by getting a series of vaccines.
2. Eat a well-balanced diet that includes nourishing foods from all the food groups. Along with eating well, you should incorporate physical activity and fitness. This will help keep your body healthy and more resistant to illnesses and diseases that can weaken and attack hinder proper liver function.
3. Cirrhosis of the Liver Use alcohol in moderation or not at all. An overuse and abuse of alcohol can cause the medical condition known as cirrhosis of the liver, which produces a hardening of the liver due to scar tissue forming.
4. Practice proper hygiene habits. Hand washing and overall cleanliness will help limit exposure to germs that can compromise your health. Make sure you wash hands after using the bathroom and before and after touching food.
5. Do not handle blood products and other bodily fluids and waste products, unless you utilize proper personal protective equipment (PPE), which includes: gloves, protective disposable gowns and eye and face protection. These productions of the body are known to carry infectious diseases.
6. Never share personal hygiene utensils like toothbrushes and razors, because they can spread infections and germs that are associated with other medical conditions that can lead to liver failure.
7. Make sure equipment that is used for tattooing and piercing is sterile and sanitary.
8. Always use a condom during sex. Even if other methods of birth control are used, you still need the protective barrier that condoms offer in lessening your risk of spreading sexually transmitted diseases. Also, hepatitis can be spread through sex.
9. Do not use intravenous drugs.

Tips & Warnings

• Anyone that feels they have been exposed to hepatitis should seek out medical attention. Your doctor can test you and conclusively diagnose, which can lead to immediate treatment.