Liver Health: Top Causes of Damage and How to Prevent It

The liver plays a crucial role in keeping the body healthy — filtering toxins, storing essential nutrients, and aiding digestion. Given its importance, adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle is vital to protect it from damage. HT Lifestyle spoke to medical experts to identify the key culprits behind liver damage and practical ways to prevent it.

3 Major Causes of Liver Damage

1. Alcohol
Alcohol impacts the liver in both the short and long term.

• Short-term: Acute alcoholic hepatitis occurs when alcohol intoxication inflames the liver.

• Long-term: Prolonged alcohol use can lead to cirrhosis, a progressive scarring of the liver. The damage worsens if fatty liver disease is already present.

2. Poor Diet

Overeating — especially high-calorie junk food and sugary beverages — can cause obesity, which is a leading risk factor for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), also known as metabolic liver disease. NAFLD is lifestyle-related and, if ignored, can progress to cirrhosis.

3. Viral Infections

• Acute infections: Hepatitis A and E, spread through contaminated food or water and poor sanitation, cause short-term liver inflammation.

• Chronic infections: Hepatitis B and C, transmitted via infected blood, syringes, or from mother to child, lead to long-term liver damage.

Prevention Tips

According to Dr Dinesh Zirpe, Director – Liver Transplantation & HPB Surgery, Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital, Pune:

• Limit alcohol intake.

• Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B if you’re at risk.

• Seek treatment for hepatitis C, which is now curable.

• Go for regular check-ups if you are overweight, diabetic, or have a history of alcohol use, so that any damage can be detected early.

He warns that fatty liver, combined with poor diet, alcohol use, or viral infections, can accelerate liver damage significantly.