NATIONAL LIVER AWARENESS MONTH

NATIONAL LIVER AWARENESS MONTH | October

National Liver Awareness Month is an annual designation observed in October. Our livers are one of the most vital organs in our bodies. They are so important, in fact, that if they were to stop functioning for a single day, we would die almost right away. During National Liver Awareness Month, we encourage you to practice health habits that will support a healthy liver. It seems that many of us don't think much about our liver when we think about overall health, so now is the time so give it the attention it deserves to keep you as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Take care of your liver. Use #LiverAwarenessMonth to post on social media. Here are some easy ways for you to improve the health of your liver this month (and every month to come)!

1. Keep a healthy weight. If you are obese or even slightly overweight, you're in danger of having a fatty liver which can lead to disease.

2. Eat a balanced diet. Avoid high calorie meals, refined carbohydrates like white bread/enriched flour, and eat a good amount of fiber.

3. Exercise regularly. Consistent exercise helps reduce liver fat.

4. Use alcohol responsibly. This is a big one when it comes to liver health. Alcoholic beverages can damage, scar, and destroy your liver.

5. Avoid drug use.

6. Practice safe sex. Unprotected sex, or sex with multiple partners increases your risk of hepatitis B and C.

7. Follow directions on all your medications. If you take too much, your liver can be damaged.

8. Get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine against hepatitis C.

HISTORY

In our research, we were unable to find the founder of National Liver Awareness Month.