Signs to look for in liver damage as 1 in 10 Brits could have the condition

03 January 2024 , 21:32

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A charity has warned that as many as one in ten Brits might have liver damage (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A charity has warned that as many as one in ten Brits might have liver damage, due to obesity and heavy drinking.

It's leading to more deaths from liver diseases and cancers, according to The British Liver Trust. The organisation scanned 2,000 members of the public on twenty high streets across the UK and discovered that a tenth had signs of liver damage, like stiffness or scarring.

Typically, liver disease develops with no symptoms until the organ is permanently damaged. But there are signs that something is wrong. These include tiredness and weakness, itchy skin, loss of sex drive, feeling of being sick, reduced appetite, weight loss and yellow eyes and/or skin, called jaundice.

For those who are obese, drink substantial amounts of alcohol, smoke or have been diagnosed with hepatitis, the risk tends to be higher. In 2021, more than 80,000 hospital admissions in England were linked to liver disease, and 10,501 people younger than 75 died from it.

Since 2001, deaths have increased from approximately 6000. In addition, liver cancers are also on the rise. In 2019 there were 5,800 deaths, but it's thought by 2040 this will increase to 9,500.

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Pamela Healy, chief of the charity told The Sun: “These figures are shocking because our roadshow was not specifically targeting people at risk.

“It offers a free scan to anyone who happens to be in town. Therefore liver disease is likely to affect far more people than previously thought.”

She added that GPs should test people more frequently because many do not understand they are damaging their health.

The Liver Trust says 90 per cent of disease cases can be prevented by staying a healthy weight, drinking less alcohol and treating and preventing hepatitis. Ms Healy added: “Every GP should be finding and testing people who are at risk – those who are overweight and with type 2 diabetes or people who regularly drink too much alcohol.”

Signs to look for:

• tiredness and weakness
• itchy skin
• loss of sex drive
• feeling of being sick
• reduced appetite
• weight loss
• yellow eyes
• yellow skin, called jaundice

Charlie Duffield