In the past, if there were complications with your liver, it was most likely cirrhosis caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. Now, it turns out that the deadliest killer via your liver is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD, which affects more than 30 per cent of Indian adults and is now the most common liver affliction in the world. There has been no breakthrough in cures, until now.
Scientists are now close to a cure. Interestingly, this cure could be discovered in India itself, as researchers at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology in Kolkata, a unit of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CISR), have discovered a new drug that could help combat this disease.
A healthy liver should ideally contain a little or no fat at all. NAFLD occurs when more than 5 to 10 per cent of your liver’s weight is fat. The reason for this is because the liver is now hoarding up fat from other sources besides alcohol. All of it has to do with obesity and the changing lifestyles today. People with type 2 diabetes, those who are overweight, suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure are all susceptible to this deadly killer.
Everything we consume, whether it’s food, medicines, beverages and more, are all processed through the liver, which is why it’s imperative that the liver remain healthy. In fact, a weakening liver doesn’t process food all that well, which is the beginning of obesity. When fat accumulates in the liver, it creates a host of complications “ cirrhosis, cancer, gastrointestinal bleeding, fluid accumulation and even mental changes. Most people with NAFLD can have problems that lead to heart attacks and strokes.
So why is this so important now? It’s because it’s afflicting Indians at a quick rate. A recent study of adults over 35 years of age in a rural community in Haryana found startling results. Eight villages were selected in this study published in the Indian Journal of Public Health and over 30 percent of them were found to be afflicted with NAFLD. Now imagine what the situation will be like in more developed areas in India. There’s a reason why this disease is gaining momentum, if one could call it that, in developed countries. So what do we do to combat this? Taking care of our livers is the obvious answer, even though you do not drink alcohol. Don’t over medicate, stick to a proper diet and have an active lifestyle, for starters.Scientists may be close to a breakthrough but that doesn’t mean we need to let it come to that. What’s interesting is that there is hardly any awareness about this affliction and that needs to change. Your liver is as important as your heart, perhaps even more so.
