The British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver roadshow made a significant impact in Watford on 29th April, offering free liver health scans and vital advice to the public. 136 members of the public took the opportunity to get checked, with nearly 9% found to have potential liver damage, putting them at higher risk of liver disease and highlighting how many people in the UK may be unknowingly living with this silent threat.
Queues formed early at the roadshow as both local residents and visitors from across the country attended to have a liver health check.
The Love Your Liver roadshow comprises a mobile unit where people take a free online screening test and find out if they were at risk of liver disease. Free liver health scanning is also available using a non-invasive device, and healthcare professionals provide expert guidance on how to keep the liver healthy through diet, exercise and healthy living.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “A big thank you to the British Liver Trust for the important work they do in Watford and across the country raising awareness about liver disease. The Love Your Liver roadshow was a fantastic opportunity for our residents to get a free liver scan and learn more about how to improve their liver health. It was great to see so many people getting involved.”
Nine in 10 cases of liver disease are preventable with the main causes being alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis.
Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of British Liver Trust, said, “One in three of us are at risk of liver disease and the numbers of people being diagnosed have been increasing at an alarming rate. Liver damage develops silently with no signs or symptoms and people often don’t realise they have a problem until it is too late. Although the liver is remarkably resilient, if left until symptoms appear, the damage is often irreversible.”
The British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver campaign focuses on three simple steps to Love Your Liver back to health:
1. Drink within recommended limits and have three consecutive days off alcohol every week
2. Cut down on sugar, carbohydrates and fat, and take more exercise
3. Know the risk factors for viral hepatitis and get tested or vaccinated if at risk
If you weren’t able to attend this event you can still find out if you are at risk and check your liver health online by doing the online screening test at https://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/screener
