World Liver Day, 19 April 2023: A Few Facts

 We all know at the international level or at the national level many events are celebrated by earmarking one day in a year to create awareness or as a celebration or for other reasons. Every year April 19, is organized as an event for World Liver Day so that everyone can be careful about the liver. A few lines about World Liver Day are presented here for the benefit of readers. The liver is the second largest and an important organ in the body. Lifestyle, food habits, etc., may damage a person’s liver over the years silently until it is 90 percent damaged.

According to Dr. Amit Miglani, Director and Head of the Department of Gastroenterology, at Asian Hospital Faridabad, “One of the most common liver diseases is fatty liver disease, which affects millions of people around the world. Fatty liver disease occurs when there is an accumulation of fat in the liver, which can cause inflammation and damage to the liver tissue in advanced stages. While the fatty liver disease is often asymptomatic, some signs can indicate the presence of the disease".  Recent studies have revealed in India 75 percent of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD; a liver disease caused in patients who drink little or no alcohol) is observed in patients with low body mass index (<25 kg/m2), (pacehospital.com/world-liver-day). This happens due to excessive fat deposits in the liver. The common perception is that alcohol consumption puts one at risk for the condition. However, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming increasingly prevalent. The risk factors include obesity, diabetes, and certain genetic diseases. It is pertinent to mention that NAFLD is a silent disease that progresses over years and could lead to liver damage, with symptoms occurring only at an advanced stage. In this context, Dr. Akash Shukla, Director, and Consultant, Department of Hepatology, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai may be quoted “Very often you won't get any features of fatty liver on your face, eyes or skin. But we can get certain hints in some of the people. If somebody has darkening of the skin on the neck, which is typically what is called a nape of the neck, that indicates insulin resistance, and that would almost always be associated with fatty liver. Similarly, if there's a darkening of the skin, in your armpits, or in the groins, those are also indications that the person may have a fatty liver". He, however, cautions that the absence of any of these does not mean the absence of fatty liver disease. And therefore, anybody who has any risk factor for fatty liver like high cholesterol, high sugar, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, or a family history of fatty liver disease or consuming significant alcohol then they should consult doctors. 

This year, 2023, the World Liver Day theme is "Be Vigilant, Do Regular Liver Check-Up, Fatty Liver Can Affect Anyone." The theme focuses to emphasise the practice of regular liver check-ups, as a fatty liver can affect anyone. 

Prof Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad