Two pegs of whisky a day for 10 yrs will scar your liver

One in every five persons in India has some or the other liver disease, say doctors of Medanta Institute of Liver Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Delhi. A group of doctors has come to the city from Delhi to start a clinic dedicated to liver transplant, in association with Columbia Asia Referral Hospital, Yeshwantpur.

Dr AS Soin, chairman, Medanta Liver Institute, said, “There are many types of liver diseases. We have seen that about 20% of the population has some or the other liver disease. Drinking as little as two pegs of whisky a day for 10 years can lead to terminal liver cirrhosis (scarring of liver), where the liver cannot eliminate toxic substances normally.”

In Karnataka, it is seen that more than two lakh people die every year from terminal liver disease and liver cancer. “Of these, 25,000 could be saved through timely surgery. In Karnataka alone, about 500 liver transplants are needed annually. But, unfortunately only about five to six surgeries are done,” he said.

In Bangalore, however, it is seen that lifestyle-related diseases have become high. “Non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases comprise 10% to 14% (of all liver-related diseases). These are caused by leading unhealthy lifestyles and eating junk food,” he said.

With increasing number of people having liver-related diseases, the problem cannot be considered as benign as it used to be considered earlier. It is seen that most people with liver diseases are more prone to liver cancer but will not know it until the disease has spread up to 50%.

“There are three stages of liver cirrhosis. In the first stage, about 50% of the liver is scarred, but it can be treated with medication and treatment. In the second stage, 60% to 75% is scarred. In the third stage, we see 75% of scarring and this is the stage when one needs transplant,” he explained.

Medanta Institute of Liver Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine has seen more than 250 cases of liver transplant till date and is collaborating with Columbia Asia Referral Hospital in Yeshwantpur to start a liver clinic here.

He said there are different types of liver diseases. About 20% of the people suffering from liver-related problems are diagnosed with Hepatitis B. About 2% are diagnosed with Hepatitis C and 4%-6% suffer from alcohol-related liver damage. He pointed out that mostly men come under the last category.

So how can one tell if he/she have a liver-related issue? “Some of the common symptoms of cirrhosis are yellowing of the skin (jaundice) due to accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, itching, easy bruising from decreased production of blood clotting factors by liver, swelling of feet or abdomen and intestinal bleeding,” he said.