Concern regarding undiagnosed liver disease in Devon
One in five adults in the South West could have undiagnosed liver disease, the British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver mobile screening and scanning unit found after visiting the region in November.
The charity visited Truro, Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol and Cheltenham, and scanned passers-by who were interested in finding out more about their liver health. Of the 268 people scanned, 50 (19%) had a high reading and were sent to their doctor for further tests.
The numbers of people with a high reading varied across the region: One in four people in Truro were sent to their doctor for further tests; one in five in Bristol and Cheltenham; and one in ten in Exeter and Plymouth.
Liver disease is a leading cause of death in England and Wales, with over 40 people dying from the disease every day. Risk factors include being overweight, drinking too much alcohol, and viral hepatitis.
Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust, said: “Sadly, figures show that alcohol-related deaths increased by 20% from 2019 to 2020 across England and Wales[1]. Unfortunately, this is not a surprise to us - lots of people who came to talk to us at the roadshow told us they were worried about how much alcohol they’ve been drinking during the pandemic.
“Liver disease has many causes and many people are unaware that obesity is set to overtake alcohol as the leading reason people develop liver disease in the next few years. Liver damage is a silent killer with no signs or symptoms and people often don’t realise they have a problem until it is too late. Although the liver is remarkably resilient, if left until symptoms appear, the damage is often irreversible.”
The British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver campaign focuses on three simple steps to reduce your risk of liver disease:
- Drink within recommended limits and have three consecutive days off alcohol every week
- Eat a healthy diet and take more exercise
- Know the risk factors for viral hepatitis and get tested or vaccinated if at risk
If you are worried that you may be at risk, the British Liver Trust has an online screener, a simple quiz, where you can find out more. Visit www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/screener
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