Browsing the BBC website this morning, this story caught my attention. I think what is shocking about it is the fact that this perfectly normal 31-year-old woman had found out that she had damaged her liver just by drinking socially. I think the scary thing about this is that it could be you or me. Many of us drink socially with friends in the pub, or after a game of football, and we don’t particularly drink so excess.
If you get a chance, have a look at the full programme which you can find on BBC iPlayer. Significantly it reminds us that more and more people in the UK are dying from alcohol related liver disease every year.
What Are The Signs of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease (ARLD)?
Here’s the tricky thing about liver damage: it’s a bit like a stealthy ninja. Your liver’s quietly taking hits while you’re none the wiser. Think of your liver as that reliable friend who never complains until things get really rough. By then, you might’ve already done some serious damage.
The early warning signs can be frustratingly vague. You might feel more tired than usual, like you’re dragging yourself through the day. Your appetite might do a vanishing act, and that morning queasiness? It’s not always just a hangover. Some folks notice their skin and eyes taking on a yellowish tint – that’s jaundice waving a red flag at you.
But here’s what might catch you off guard: these symptoms don’t always show up in the order you’d expect. You might feel perfectly fine one day and then notice your belly’s swollen up like a balloon the next. Or maybe you’re experiencing random bruising because your liver’s not producing enough blood-clotting proteins anymore.
What’s really eye-opening is how these symptoms can sneak up on anyone. You don’t have to be a heavy drinker to be at risk. Even those “casual” weekend drinks can add up over time, like small deposits in a damage bank account.
Using A Home Liver Function Test
Let’s chat about something that could protect your liver: home testing. The Zoom Health Home Liver Function Test is similar to having a tiny health investigator in your bathroom cabinet. These clever test strips provide important information about your liver’s condition in 60 seconds – faster than making your morning coffee!
The science behind this is intriguing. These tests check for two important elements in your urine: bilirubin and urobilinogen. You can think of bilirubin as your liver’s report card – it shouldn’t appear in your urine under normal circumstances. If it does show up, it’s as if your liver is raising a yellow flag to say, “Something seems off here!” Urobilinogen however, is present in small quantities, but when its levels increase, you should pay attention.
The appeal of these at-home tests is their ease of use. Each package contains two test strips and a color guide to help you understand the results. It’s as easy as following cooking instructions. Here’s the key point: although these tests can’t identify specific health issues, they excel at spotting early signs of trouble. You can think of them as an alarm system for your liver.
Remember though, these tests aren’t meant to replace proper medical advice. If your test shows something unusual, or if you’re experiencing any of those symptoms we talked about earlier, don’t just file it away and forget about it. Your GP should be your next stop. After all, when it comes to liver health, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Photo by Anthony Cunningham for Zoom Health UK
Zoom Health is a leading UK supplier of Home Health Tests and Earplugs
