Indore, April 18, 2024. All organs in our body are extremely important. Among these essential organs, the liver plays a crucial role in many functions. It aids in digestion, metabolizing, hormone production, and detoxifying the body by expelling toxins. The liver plays a vital role in digestion, metabolism, hormone production, and detoxification. There are many misconceptions worldwide about liver and liver-related diseases. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), liver disease is the 10th most common cause of death in India. To spread awareness about the liver and liver-related diseases, World Liver Day is celebrated every year on April 19th. This day is celebrated with a specific theme each year. This year, the theme of World Liver Day 2024 is 'Increasing Awareness about the Vital Role of the Liver.' According to gastroenterologist Dr. H.P. Yadav, at Medanta Super Specialty Hospital in Indore, "The liver is very special for our body. Whatever we eat and drink, it goes through the liver. It is essential to keep it healthy and strong. It protects us from many serious illnesses. It is an organ that, if not taken care of properly, can be damaged. The liver not only helps in digesting food but also plays a crucial role in many other functions of the body. Any problem or disease related to the liver not only affects the digestive system but also impacts the functioning of other vital organs such as kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain. It performs important functions such as fighting liver infections and diseases, controlling blood sugar, expelling toxins from the body, regulating cholesterol levels, assisting in blood clotting, and reducing bile." Dr. Yadav explains about fatty liver, stating, "Liver cirrhosis, and liver failure can be caused by obesity and fatty liver. There are many factors that increase the risk of obesity and fatty liver, including excessive weight or obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and genetic history. According to research by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every 8 people in the world was living with obesity. Obesity is not only dangerous for the liver but also for other organs. In 2019, an estimated 5 million deaths occurred due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, neurological disorders, chronic respiratory diseases, and digestive disorders caused by obesity and fatty liver. To prevent liver failure from obesity and fatty liver, maintain a healthy weight, control diabetes and hypertension, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and avoid alcohol." Regarding the symptoms of liver-related diseases, Dr. Arun Singh Bhadauria, a consultant gastroenterologist at Medanta Super Specialty Hospital in Indore, says, "To diagnose any disease related to the liver, it is most important to know its symptoms. The most common symptom that appears when there is any problem in the liver is jaundice, which makes the body appear yellow. In addition to this, swelling in the legs or stomach (edema), swelling in the abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, easily bruising on the skin, fatigue, or changes in the color of stool and urine are symptoms to look out for. Infections related to the liver such as hepatitis A, B, or C, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, Wilson's disease, and hemochromatosis are commonly seen in liver-related problems." Dr. Bhadauria further advises, "To keep the liver healthy, avoid including oily food items in your diet. Instead, include healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, etc. in your diet. This reduces the risk of fatty liver also, maintain hygiene. Drink plenty of water as keeping your body hydrated can help your liver too. Exercise regularly or engage in other activities. The cells of the liver can be damaged by drinking alcohol, in such a situation, avoid drinking alcohol. Do not smoke to keep the liver healthy. Do not take painkillers and antibiotics without a doctor's advice. Avoid high-calorie foods, saturated fats, processed carbohydrates (such as white bread, white rice, and pasta), and sugar. Be cautious during tattooing, injections, using razor blades, or blood transfusions. Hepatitis infection poses the greatest risk due to these reasons. So, do not share things like toothbrushes, razors, or needles. Get vaccinated for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Hepatitis can be transmitted through unsafe sex. So, use safety methods such as condoms during physical intercourse. Maintain your body weight. Get your liver checked regularly in a full-body checkup under a doctor's advice. Tests such as serum bilirubin, serum albumin, and fibroscan help in identifying liver problems. In addition, adopt a healthy lifestyle and keep taking advice from the doctor."