Livet days Natural metabolic enhancer behind us: wel-being testing, medications and advanced knowledge have Livet many liver diseases welll-being or reversible. Wdll-being Lentil Soup Thai Turkey Stir-Fry Teriyaki Halibut Vegetarian Chili Healh Mushroom Burgers with Cheese Boosting your bodys immune defenses. Heealth the staff: Oevrall clean outer Ulcer prevention after surgery Wash hands with soap and warm water before and after each procedure or use waterless hand cleaner Wear aprons or other protective clothing whenever there is a possibility of blood contact with clothing Work on surfaces that are made of smooth and non-porous materials. Managing liver conditions requires a comprehensive approach that includes medications, lifestyle modifications, and, in some cases, surgery. The liver is responsible for metabolizing nutrients, producing bile for digestion, regulating blood sugar levels, and storing essential vitamins and minerals. Basic liver tests are not part of annual check-ups requested by your family doctor, so many family doctors do not typically run these tests unless they suspect a possible liver issue.

Liver health and overall well-being -

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Performance Performance. A small biopsy needle is then inserted through the tube and directly into the liver to obtain a sample of tissue. Finally, liver biopsy may be done at the time a patient undergoes an open abdominal operation, enabling the surgeon to inspect the liver and take one or more biopsy samples as needed.

Liver biopsy is often used to diagnose the cause of chronic liver disease that results in elevated liver tests or an enlarged liver. If the diagnosis is known, such as hepatitis C, then the main reason for a liver biopsy is to determine whether the patient has a progressive disease.

In many cases, the specific cause of the chronic liver disease can be established on the basis of blood tests, but a liver biopsy is used to confirm the diagnosis and to determine the amount of damage to the liver.

Liver biopsy is also used after liver transplantation to determine the cause of elevated liver tests and determine if rejection is present. The primary risk of liver biopsy is bleeding from the site of needle entry into the liver, although this occurs in less than one per cent of patients.

Other possible complications include the puncture of other organs, such as the kidney, lung or colon. A liver biopsy procedure that damages the gallbladder by mistake may lead to leakage of bile into the abdominal cavity, causing peritonitis.

Fortunately, the risk of death from liver biopsy is extremely low, with a mortality of 1 in 5, In order to reduce the risk of bleeding, the coagulation status is assessed in all patients prior to a biopsy. If the prothrombin coagulating time is too slow or the platelet count is low, a standard biopsy is not recommended.

Vitamin K or fresh frozen plasma may be used to correct clotting abnormalities in such patients. Another alternative in this situation would be a transjugular biopsy. The primary alternative to liver biopsy is to make the diagnosis of a liver disease based on the physical examination of the patient, medical history, and blood testing.

In some cases, blood testing is quite accurate in giving the doctor the information to diagnose chronic liver disease, while in other circumstances a liver biopsy is needed to assure an accurate diagnosis.

FibroScan FS is a completely non-invasive diagnostic instrument to measure fibrosis scarring of the liver of the liver.

FS is based on the premise that as the liver becomes more fibrotic, the tissue density increases and the liver becomes less elastic.

FS is easier to perform, safer and less expensive in comparison to a liver biopsy. Measurements with the FS can be taken at multiple locations of the liver whereas a liver biopsy tissue sample is taken from one location in the liver.

Liver biopsies are usually not recommended to diagnose liver cancer except on rare occasions when a diagnosis is not clear. Typically, liver cancer is diagnosed by using a CT scan or an MRI. A biopsy of a liver cancer has a small but real risk of having some cancer cells follow the pathway of the needle and spread outside of the liver.

In most circumstances, a liver biopsy is only performed once to confirm a suspected diagnosis of chronic liver disease. Occasionally, liver biopsy is repeated if the clinical condition changes or to assess the results of medical therapy, such as drug treatment of chronic viral hepatitis or autoimmune hepatitis.

Patients who have undergone liver transplantation often require numerous liver biopsies in the early weeks to months following the surgery to allow accurate diagnosis of whether the new liver is being rejected or whether other problems have developed.

If you do not have a family physician, try going to a walk-in clinic to see if they are able to take you on as a patient. You can also talk to friends, family and neighbours in your community to see if they can recommend any doctors in the area so you can contact them to see if they are taking new patients.

They may also be able to direct you to an established physician who is taking on new patients. Another source of information and guidance on finding a physician is your provincial medical association. In most provinces and territories, the Ministry of Health or a provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons offers an online directory of physicians, often sorted by location and specialty.

Click the here to find a directory in your area. If you respond and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from Canadian Liver Foundation. Resource Hub Liver Diseases For Caregivers Transplants Clinical Trials.

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All rights reserved. Charitable Registration RR Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date on the latest news, updates and resources for liver disease. English Français. Search Search. Donate now. Join the Mailing List. You may never stop to think about it, but your liver is essential to your life.

If your liver stops working, so do you. About the Liver. Find a Doctor. About the Liver Used with permission from Mayo Clinic. All rights reserved Weighing in at a little over one kilogram, your liver is a complex chemical factory that works 24 hours a day.

Regulates your supply of body fuel: Producing, storing and supplying quick energy glucose to keep your mind alert and your body active.

It produces, stores and exports fat. Manufactures many of your essential body proteins involved in : Transporting substances in your blood, clotting of your blood, and providing resistance to infections.

Regulates the balance of hormones: Including sex hormones, thyroid hormones, cortisone and other adrenal hormones. Regulates your supply of essential vitamins and minerals: Including iron and copper. Produces bile: Eliminating toxic substances from your body and aiding with your digestion.

Your liver is… Your power source. Your liver is… Your engine. Your liver is… Your pharmacist. Back to top. I can only get liver disease if I drink alcohol excessively or use drugs.

This is a myth. Even young children can get liver disease. This is a fact. I would have noticed something was wrong if I had liver disease. I would feel sick. Yellowing of the skin and of the whites of the eyes jaundice in babies is very common and should not be a cause for concern.

I can get Cirrhosis of the liver even if I don't drink. Liver cancer is very common in Canada. A liver cleanse is all I need to get my liver back in shape. A liver transplant is not a cure for liver disease. If I have regular annual check-ups, my doctor would tell me if I have or am at risk for developing liver disease.

The following are some tips to help safeguard your liver health and ensure the medications and remedies you need to take to achieve their desired effect: To avoid potentially life-threatening complications, you should talk to your doctor about all medications or supplements — pharmaceutical and herbal — that you are taking or thinking of taking If your doctor prescribes a long-term medication, ask for a liver test before you start the medication and after the first few weeks of taking the drug to determine how your liver is tolerating it.

Follow up with regular liver tests throughout the duration of your treatment. Read more Always read and follow the dosing instructions as dictated by your doctor or the medication label. Never take more than the recommended dose and be sure to take into consideration other medications that you may be taking at the same time that may have similar ingredients.

Never mix medication with alcohol. Alcohol increases the risk of possible liver damage. Acetaminophen can be especially toxic when combined with alcohol. Be careful about mixing Tylenol® with other products that contain acetaminophen.

By taking more than one pain reliever or cold remedy at a time, you may accidentally take more acetaminophen than is safe.

Consult your doctor about acetaminophen if you have liver disease. Avoid certain herbal supplements see list below as well as certain vitamins in high doses as they have the potential to cause damage to the liver. For example, high doses of vitamins E, K — and especially vitamins A and D — may be harmful.

The chemicals in grapefruit both rind and pulp can interfere with the liver enzymes that break down drugs. A variety of different medications — including some anti-depressants, blood pressure medications, cholesterol-lowering drugs and tranquilizers — have been shown to have potentially serious interactions with grapefruit products.

For more information, consult your doctor or pharmacist or visit the Health Canada website. If you have a chronic liver disease or other liver condition, consult your doctor before taking any form of prescription or non-prescription medication or herbal remedy. If you do use drugs, make sure you use sterile drug-use equipment e.

Over-the-Counter Pain Killers Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol®, one of the most popular over-the-counter pain relievers. Here is some valuable advice: Always read and follow the dosing instructions as dictated by your doctor or the medication label.

The combination of acetaminophen and alcohol, for example, can lead to liver failure. If you take other medications, consult your doctor or pharmacist about possible drug interactions. Consult with your doctor about taking acetaminophen if you have liver disease.

Take Tylenol® and all other pain relievers only when really necessary It is very important to speak to your doctor about the risks and benefits of all medications before making the decision to take them. Alcohol Consumption When you have a glass of wine, beer, or other liquor, your liver is responsible for processing this alcohol and detoxifying your blood.

The following are some tips to consider when deciding whether you should have that first drink or order the next round: Never mix alcohol and medication. Women absorb more alcohol than men and therefore are more susceptible to alcohol-related liver disease even if they consume less alcohol.

The amount of alcohol — not the type — is what matters. Each has the same effect on the liver whether taken alone or diluted. If you have hepatitis or any other form of liver disease, avoid alcohol completely.

Alcohol can compound ongoing damage to the liver. Limit your alcohol consumption to one or two drinks, but never on a daily basis. As far as your liver is concerned, the safest amount of alcohol is no alcohol at all.

Body Beautification Body art, piercings, painted nails and toes are all forms of self-expression. Ensure the staff: Wear clean outer clothing Wash hands with soap and warm water before and after each procedure or use waterless hand cleaner Wear aprons or other protective clothing whenever there is a possibility of blood contact with clothing Work on surfaces that are made of smooth and non-porous materials.

Clean all surfaces with a solution of bleach and water PLUS all points listed previously. Travel Protecting your liver while travelling can be as easy as taking some preventative steps before you leave home and following a few simple precautions while you are away.

Many vaccinations require time to become effective. Get a medical check-up and tell your doctor about the countries to be visited, length of stay in each country, time of the year in each country season , type of accommodation major hotel, rustic tent, etc , and type of travel bus tour, backpacking, etc.

During your trip Take precautions to ensure water is safe use bottled, purified or boiled water for drinking, making ice cubes, brushing teeth, washing food, etc. Practise good hand-washing techniques and keep hand sanitizers nearby.

Understand how it is accessed while abroad. Keep track of current travel health notices. Pack list of travel medical clinics in the region you are visiting.

Pack some safe sex supplies before you go if you might be sexually active while away as they are not always as readily available abroad and quality can differ between countries. Pack a water purifier ex: SteriPen etc to sterilize water. Pack insect repellent the most effective ones contain DEET.

More Tips During Travel: Find out the local emergency number and address of the nearest hospital when you arrive. Practise safe sex. Avoid food from street vendors. Sex Before you get involved in any kind of sexual activity, it is important to know the risks and how to protect both you and your partner.

Practice safer sex by using a condom during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Wash your hands carefully after sex and before making food, eating, drinking or smoking. If you suspect that you or your partner may have been exposed to hepatitis A, B or C, contact your health provider right away.

Hepatitis A How can it be transmitted sexually? Hepatitis B How can it be transmitted sexually? Hepatitis C How can it be transmitted sexually? Chemicals in the Home Not only does your liver metabolize what goes in your body, but it also metabolizes what goes on your body.

Since the liver has to detoxify everything you breathe in, exposure to airborne chemicals can damage your liver.

Take precautions to avoid exposure when using weed-control chemicals or spraying for bugs. Investigate more organic methods for maintaining your lawn and gardens, as well as for the cleaning of indoor surfaces.

Take every opportunity to get outside and enjoy some exercise. Exercise helps keep your body — and especially your liver — strong and better able to defend itself against pollutants.

Do not skip meals or over-eat. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids preferably water a day. Regularly choose a variety of whole foods including fruits and vegetables, protein sources legumes, lean meats , whole grains quinoa, wild rice , dairy low-fat yogurt, milk and cheese and sources of healthy fat nuts, avocado, fatty fish.

In this blog, we'll explore the top foods that can help maintain and improve liver function. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber.

They are excellent choices for liver health because they can help neutralize harmful toxins and reduce inflammation. Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are part of the cruciferous vegetable family, known for their liver-boosting properties.

They contain compounds like sulforaphane and indolecarbinol that promote detoxification and protect the liver from damage. Loving Your Liver: Tips for Optimal Nourishment Our liver is a beautiful organ — maybe not visually though. Leafy Greens Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber.

Cruciferous Vegetables Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are part of the cruciferous vegetable family, known for their liver-boosting properties.

Fatty Fish Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and trout are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce inflammation and improve liver function. Omega-3s can also help combat fatty liver disease, a condition where excessive fat accumulates in the liver.

Olive Oil Olive oil is a heart-healthy fat that supports liver health. Nuts and Seeds Almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds are excellent sources of antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats.

By GGI Lived Ulcer prevention after surgery 15, The liver, your body's silent hero, works tirelessly aand the Ulcer prevention after surgery. With such a crucial annd, it is crucial to prioritize liver health and take proactive measures to support its optimal function. But what if it's under threat and you don't even know it? Today, our modern lifestyle exposes us to elements that can silently strain our liver. Natural detox for fighting free radicals completed Ulcer prevention after surgery medical training at the University of Ottawa and Liver health and overall well-being been a member of the Osler Liver health and overall well-being since Halth at well-beinb 30 minutes a day outside of wel-being day-to-day activities. Incorporate Liber cardiovascular exercise and well-beinh training, and challenge yourself to build on your physical fitness each month. For additional motivation, try group classes, a team sport, and a variety of activities to keep yourself engaged. A diet rich in plants, lean proteins and healthy fats is vital for good liver health, and overall well-being. Choose a variety of different coloured vegetables and fruits, and incorporate healthy sources of fats and proteins that include white meats, fish or avocados into your daily meals.