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I know nothing about my liver. After my Kidney stones shockwave treatment (and my other kidney showing sign of kidney stones), I guess it’s about time that I worry about my other organs.

Some facts about liver:

• Liver is part of our digestive system. 
• Liver is the biggest solid organ in our body and is considered as a gland because it secretes bile.
• The liver is the only organ in our body that can regenerate even though a large of it has been removed.

The bile secreted by the liver is a substance needed to digest fats. Aside from that, our liver is important because it detoxify our body by breaking down toxins. It also stores some vitamins and iron and stores simple sugar and converts it when our body needs the sugar. The liver also plays a vital role in metabolism as it converts ammonia to urea which is needed in metabolism.

Liver destroys old red blood cells, the usual brown color of our fecal is the result of destruction of old red blood cells. Discoloration of fecal may be a sign that there is something wrong with our liver. Jaundice is another sign that your liver is not doing any good.

The most common liver diseases are hepatitis infection, fatty liver or damaged brought about by alcohol abuse.

And though  our liver can regenerate even though a large of it has been removed, it does not mean that we should not take care of our liver. Who would want to undergo a liver operation? Just imagine the pain and  the cost. Here are some ways to take care of our liver:

• Do not drink too much as too much alcohol can damage our liver in two ways: 1. when our liver tries to breakdown too much alcohol, the chemical reaction can be damaging to the cells of the liver and 2. the alcohol damage the intestine which may allow bacteria to get into our liver. 
• Stay away from fatty food and exercise daily. Since our liver produces bile to digest fats, more fats means more bile production which means overworked liver (they need to rest too, you know).
• Be more conscious of the medicines you take as some or incorrect dosage may lead to liver damage.
• Drink more water as this will help your liver detoxify itself.
• Proper hygiene also plays a vital role in making sure our liver is healthy as hepatitis infection can be passed through contaminated food, water, blood or body fluids. Make sure that you always wash your hand properly.

What will happen if our liver is damaged?

When a large part of the liver is damaged, liver failure will occur and if liver failure is severe the patient will need a liver transplant.

It’s rainy days once again!!! waaah time to be more conscious with our health.. as for me, I had to prepare my kids for this season, mahirap magkasakit ng sabay sabay ang apat no! Sharing with you an article from our P&G friends  (text in italics are mine)

READ: 10 Common Health Issues Experienced During Summer

Common Health Issues Experienced During Rainy Days

Cough and bronchitis
In wet and humid weather, you may inhale particles and fumes trapped in the moist air.  When your body detects an obstruction in your air passageways, the immune system makes you cough in an attempt to eject the blockage.  This is why a cough usually follows the onset of a cold.  Most simple coughs go away after they’ve run their natural course, but you can ease your recovery with plenty of rest and over-the-counter cough medicine.
On the other hand, a cough could intensify to bronchitis if your air passages become infected, so preventive measures are important.  Avoid people who have a cold or the flu, and get yourself immunized annually with flu and pneumonia vaccines.  If you smoke, quit – smoking lowers your defenses against infection.  Also avoid damp and polluted areas.  And don’t forget to wash your hands regularly.

The common cold and pneumonia
The cold virus is transmitted by contact.    Cold symptoms are actually your immune system’s way of defending your body.  It produces mucus and constricts your nose and throat to ward off the virus.  The process is not unlike having a fierce battle going on inside your body, and can leave you feeling drained of energy.  Fatigue and emotional stress can decrease immunity and further increase your vulnerability to the virus.

To avoid catching and spreading the cold virus, cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing to prevent the virus being released into the air.  Because even inanimate objects, like a doorknob or countertop, and water can carry the cold virus, it’s important to keep your home clean and to be careful not to be caught in the rain!  Also, wash and bathe with an anti-bacterial soap like Safeguard to kill germs.

If you already have a cold, a warm bath will help clear your respiratory track.  Drink plenty of liquid to replenish your body’s store, and watch for signs of dehydration.

It is not advisable to ignore a cold.  When bacteria or virus reaches your lungs, you could very easily catch pneumonia, one of the top causes of deaths in the Philippines.  If the cold symptoms worsen or last more than a few days, see your doctor.

Do you know why cold is most common during the rainy days, as well as cough? Based on my readings, our body, during cold season, works overtime to balance our body temp. Our immune system weakens because part of the energy in our body where used to balance our temp. In lay’s man term, if you’re putting much effort cleaning your house, you won’t have energy doing the laundry. got it? 

READ: The Top Leading Causes of Death Among Filipino Children: Pneumonia and Diarrhea

Diarrhea
Diarrhea is very common during the rainy season, and is the biggest killer of children under 6 years old.  It is characterized by a high frequency of bowel movement, inability to delay defecation until an appropriate time, and increased looseness of stool.

Diarrhea occurs when viruses, bacteria, parasites or poisons are ingested and the body responds by trying to eject the toxins. If it is acute and continuous, severe dehydration and body weakness can result.  People with diarrhea should take plenty of water to replenish body fluids.  The best treatment is to wait it out.  Do not take medicine that will keep stool in; this will only serve to aggravate the condition.  If it lasts for more than a few days or is particularly virulent, see your doctor.

To prevent diarrhea, drink only clean filtered water and freshly prepared food.  Wash frequently to get rid of toxins from the things you touched.

It’s hard to find information on why Diarrhea is also rampant on rainy days. I guess the weakening of the immune system also has to do with this.

Leptospirosis
The Department of Health has repeatedly warned of the risk of leptospirosis in flood-prone areas.  This is because floodwaters can contain rat urine, the common carrier of the bacteria that causes the disease.  The spirochete bacteria can enter your body if you accidentally drink the contaminated water, or through an open wound.

Leptospirosis is a serious disease, typified by a high fever, vomiting and extreme muscle pain.  Its symptoms escalate rapidly and can lead to death.

To prevent infection, wear rain boots if wading through floodwaters is unavoidable.  Wash straightaway with an anti-bacterial soap like Safeguard, making sure to scrub well.  And immediately see a doctor if you develop any of the symptoms.

With proper prevention, rains and floods need not be the cause of major health concerns.  Remember the adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Can I just say that washing with anti bacterial soap really helps a lot in keeping you healthy and disease free (of course it also counts that you eat right, sleep well and drink plenty of water).

READ>> Proper way to wash your hands. 

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