Liver Awareness Month Brought to you by Senior Extra at Charlotte Regional and Peace River Regional Medical Centers

PUNTA GORDA, FL (October 3, 2013) –

Protect your liver

Did you know that your liver is responsible for protecting you from toxins and harmful substances? Each day, your liver performs hundreds of functions to keep your body healthy. That’s why liver disease, among the top 10 causes of death in the U.S., is such a serious health risk.

Thankfully, many forms of liver disease are preventable and effectively treated when they are detected early. October is National Liver Awareness Month and Charlotte Regional & Peace River Regional Medical Center’s Senior Extra program would like to share some tips for keeping your liver healthy.

Habits that support a healthy liver

An important function of the liver is to filter blood coming from the digestive tract before it circulates to the rest of the body. The liver processes most of the nutrients you eat into forms that can be used by your body, produces cholesterol and important proteins, regulates blood composition, and removes toxins from the blood, among other functions.

By practicing healthy habits, you can help support your liver and keep it in top working order. The health care teams at Charlotte Regional & Peace River Regional Medical Centers recommend you:

• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can put you at risk for fatty liver disease and liver cancer. Exercise regularly and eat a variety of foods from all the food groups, and choose fiber-rich, unprocessed foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid high-fat and fried foods, particularly those with trans fats, which can have a negative impact on your health.

• Don’t smoke and limit your alcohol intake. The chemicals in cigarettes and smoke can affect the health of your liver, so avoid smoking and second-hand smoke. Alcohol can damage or destroy liver cells and lead to liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis (liver inflammation) and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). Talk to your doctor about the amount of alcohol that’s safe for you to consume.

• Avoid breathing in or touching toxins. Limit direct contact with toxins found in cleaning and aerosol products, paints, pesticides, and insecticides. Wear gloves, masks or other protective clothing to avoid breathing or touching harmful chemicals, and make sure areas are well-ventilated when using products indoors. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions.

• Get tested for hepatitis C. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 75 percent of adults infected with hepatitis C are baby boomers, and many are unaware they’re living with the disease. Although hepatitis can affect anyone, those born from 1945-1965 have the highest rates of the disease. The CDC recommends anyone born during this time should be tested.

• Use medications wisely. Taking medications in improper doses, for long periods of time, mixed with other substances, or unnecessarily can all harm your liver. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist often about prescriptions and over-the-counter medications — even vitamins and supplements — you’re taking.

“As we age, the function of the kidneys, liver and other organ systems in the body slows down,” said Thomas Noone, M.D., market medical director for Charlotte Regional and Peace River Regional Medical Centers. “Compared with younger adults, people 65 and older may have a diminished capacity to break down and remove medicines from their bodies, which can lead to undesirable drug reactions. Therefore, it’s important for seniors to talk to their doctor about daily medications to prevent potential problems.”

A healthy liver has an amazing ability to regenerate when it is damaged, so it's important to practice lifestyle habits that support the health of your liver. Eating well, controlling your weight, avoiding everyday toxins, and talking to your doctor or pharmacist about medications can help support your overall health.

About Charlotte Regional Medical Center
Located in Punta Gorda, Charlotte Regional Medical Center is a full-service hospital dedicated to abiding by the mission of: Caring professionals dedicated to serving our community. Founded in 1947, 208-bed Charlotte Regional is Joint Commission Accredited and an award-winning hospital, with stroke services, orthopedics and respiratory programs earning national distinction. Charlotte Regional Medical Center is now part of Bayfront Health; 6,000 professionals in seven hospitals across five counties, united to bring state-of-the-art care to Florida's Gulf communities. For more information, visit www.CharlotteRegional.com.

About Peace River Regional Medical Center
Founded in 1962 by a group of local physicians, Peace River Regional Medical Center is a 254-bed Joint Commission Accredited full-service hospital located in Port Charlotte.  Recognized locally as a leading healthcare provider, Peace River is offers a full-continuum of care to patients in Charlotte County.  In 2012, the state-of-the-art Peace River Heart Institute opened on the main hospital campus. Peace River Heart Institute is Charlotte County’s only full-service cardiac center, offering a full spectrum if interventional cardiac services, including open heart surgery.  Peace River Regional Medical Center is now part of Bayfront Health; 6,000 professionals in seven hospitals across five counties, united to bring state-of-the-art care to Florida's Gulf communities. For more information, visit www.PeaceRiverRegional.com. 

About Senior Extra

Ever-changing advancements in health care allow us to live longer and improve our overall health. Providing the latest information about health advancements through monthly seminars and events is just one facet of Senior Extra. To sign up for a free membership, visit www.SeniorExtra.com.

Remember that this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health.

True or False: Hepatitis C can be spread by sharing food or using the utensils of someone who is infected.

False. Hepatitis C is not spread by casual contact, kissing, hugging, breastfeeding, or through sneezing or coughing. It is usually spread when the blood from an infected person enters the body of someone not infected. Widespread screening of the blood supply began in 1992 to prevent spread of the disease through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

Sources:

American Liver Foundation – www.liverfoundation.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – www.cdc.gov/knowmorehepatitis