How does a life with liver disease affect in graceful aging for seniors?

The best fortune is healthy aging. The liver is a unique and important organ that can regenerate itself! A healthy liver is necessary for staying active. The liver is the main organ that performs many important functions in the body such as

• Detoxifying and glycogen storage regulation
• Hormone production
• Protein synthesis
• Biochemicals that are required for metabolism and growth.

The liver is located beneath the diaphragm in the right upper part of the abdomen. The liver's highly specialized tissue mostly made up of hepatocytes, regulates a wide range of essential functions.

Most chronic illnesses are exacerbated by aging. According to research, aging is linked to the lethality and poor prognosis of multiple liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver cirrhosis, viral Hepatitis, etc.

The following are the most prevalent liver diseases:

• Cirrhosis is the formation of damaged tissue on the liver, which frequently leads to liver failure. The major reason for Cirrhosis is excessive alcohol intake over a longer duration.
• Hepatitis is defined as an inflammatory response of the liver tissue. An autoimmune response, toxins, and viruses can all cause hepatitis.
• Liver Cancer is frequently linked to the two preceding conditions, alcohol and hepatitis.  According to studies, it is the sixth most predominant cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death.

Even though the liver can repair itself to some level, it is our responsibility to look after ourselves in order to sustain our overall health.

The 19th of April is designated as World Liver Day to raise awareness about the liver and diseases or conditions that affect it. Here are some suggestions for maintaining healthy liver function and aging gracefully.

• Limit alcohol consumption: With alcohol consumption being the leading cause of Cirrhosis, it’s no surprise that this one made the list! Limiting alcohol consumption or not consuming is the best intervention you can make to protect your liver.
• Drink plenty of water: This is the most effective way to keep your body healthy and free of toxins. A minimum of 8 glasses of water should be consumed each day. Hydration aids in keeping your body and liver cool and healthy.
• Healthy senior diets: Beets, carrots, turmeric, lemon, cumin, and liver-friendly curries must all be included in senior diets.
• Learn about your prescriptions: Combining medications can have long-term or even fatal consequences. When you take medications with other pills or alcohol, your liver is put under a lot of stress as it tries to process the toxic compounds.
• Good Fats and High Fiber: Healthy unsaturated fats aid in liver health. Consume foods high in fibre and healthy fats, such as Omega-3-rich foods, to improve your health.
• Don't forget to get your vaccines: Hepatitis B, which influences the liver directly, is prevented by vaccination.
• Safe Sex practices: Hepatitis C can be passed from one person to another through sexual contact or the use of syringes. Because there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C, precautionary measures should be taken. Brushes and other personal hygiene items should not be shared between people.

Apart from the aforementioned suggestions, maintaining an ideal BMI, restricting your intake of illicit drugs, and adhering to prescribed diets such as protein diets, etc. can all help you maintain your liver's health.

Do you know? Pancreatic cancer has the potential to spread to other parts of the human body. The stomach and liver are the first organs to be affected. As a result, the key to a healthy liver is to maintain good body function and wellbeing.

Although liver dialysis techniques can be used in the short term, it is unknown how to compensate for the absence of liver function in the long run. Artificial livers have not been adapted to provide a long-term substitute in the absence of the liver, so liver transplantation is the only alternative for people who have liver failure.

Following a transplant, post-surgery care is critical. Seniors who have had a liver transplant can benefit from proper care to speed up their recovery. Short-term and long-term care options are available at assisted living facilities to help seniors return to their previous state after being discharged from the hospital.

Geriatric care services at Athulya Assisted Living help residents live a happy and healthy aging process. Athulya seeks to promote healing by providing a homelike atmosphere and holistic skilled nursing services to help patients recover faster.