Doctors can help you to treat symptoms as they arise. But you can help yourself to prevent liver disease that’s the result of a viral infection, alcohol and/or drug abuse, and diet choices.
Here are few steps you can take to support your liver in doing its job, and to prevent liver disease:
Maintain a healthy weight
Fat accumulation in the liver as a result of an unhealthy diet can cause serious liver damage. This is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and often affects people who are overweight or obese. Weight loss is recommended, as are regular exercise and a healthy, low-fat, carbohydrate-controlled diet.
Maintain Good Hygiene
Good hygiene habits will go a long way to preventing hepatitis A, as the virus is spread by coming into contact with infected faeces. It’s essential to wash your hands after going to the toilet, and after changing a baby’s nappy. You also need to wash your hands before working with food. And remember to boil your drinking water if you’re not sure that it’s clean.
Vaccinations
If you haven’t been vaccinated against hepatitis but have been exposed to it, your doctor can give you preventive passive vaccine. This is done through an injection of donated blood that contains immunoglobulins or antibodies to the hepatitis A and B viruses. It’s not needed if you’ve already been infected with the virus.