The liver is probably one of the most important organs in your entire body. Everything that you intake must go through the liver so that it can be processed before it gets distributed to the other parts of your body. It plays numerous roles in your physiological processes and has a wide array of functions. In this line, it can be truthfully said that the body’s overall health anchors on the liver’s performance. Although the liver has the ability to replace its damaged cells, if enough cells are compromised, then it may cease to function normally.
There are several bad habits that can result to the impairment of the liver. Liver damage can be fatal, and so to prevent this, it’s best to know the things that can potentially harm your liver in the long run.
1. Excessive alcohol drinking
Consuming alcohol in excess is the most common cause of liver malfunction and damage. Too much alcohol in the system decreases the liver’s capacity to filter the toxins out of your body. This is because instead of the liver removing those nasty things of the body, it busies itself in converting the excess alcohol that you have into a less toxic form. This may cause fatty liver disease and inflammation.
2. Medication overuse
Consuming too much medication can be hepatotoxic. The damage can range from mild to total liver failure.
3. Smoking
Smoking is a nasty habit and leads to too many health complications. Smoking can lead not only to liver deterioration but also lung diseases and more. The toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke can eventually reach the liver and may cause oxidative stress to happen which in turn produces free radicals that can attack the liver cells.
4. Sleep Deprivation
Lack of sleep surprisingly can lead to health complications. Studies have shown that not getting enough sleep can lead to the liver undergoing oxidative stress. Oxidative stress triggers the production of free radicals—the chemicals that causes damage to healthy cells.
5. Poor Nutrition and Obesity
Obesity is often linked to sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits. Poor eating habits can damage your liver in the long run. Eating the wrong kinds of foods taxes your liver and may cause fat-build up on the organ itself leading to the development of NAFLD or non alcoholic fatty liver disease.
