Your Liver / Liver Myths
Liver Myths
The liver is a misunderstood organ. On this page, we’re debunking common myths.
The liver is a misunderstood organ. On this page, we’re debunking common myths.
Fact: You can be born with liver disease, contract it from a virus, develop an autoimmune form of liver disease, develop it from what you eat and drink, be exposed to various toxins, or get it for unknown reasons. Alcohol only causes 1 out of more than 100 different types of liver disease. In Canada, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common liver disease, affecting nearly eight million Canadians.
Fact: Pediatric liver specialists in Canada see thousands of children – from newborns to teens – who suffer from various forms of liver disease. The major causes of liver disease in children are genetics (e.g Wilson’s Disease, alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, and tyrosinemia), viruses (e.g. hepatitis A, B, and C) and blockages in the flow of bile from the liver (e.g. biliary atresia and alagille syndrome).
Fact: Jaundice can be an early warning sign of liver disease. Many babies have “newborn jaundice” lasting three to five days after birth because their liver is not yet fully developed, however, jaundice that does not clear up after 14 days of life, dark urine and/or pale stools, an enlarged abdomen and vomiting are signs that your baby should be seen by their doctor.
Fact: When your liver starts to fail, toxins can build up into your brain causing a condition that resembles dementia called hepatic encephalopathy (HE). HE is the deterioration in brain function observed in people with acute liver failure or chronic liver disease.
HE symptoms include trouble sleeping at night, difficulty thinking clearly, poor concentration, anxiety, and mental fogginess.
Fact: Despite the promise of a newer, healthier you from well-marketed products and programs that are meant to cleanse your digestive system, the liver does not need to be cleansed – it does that job itself.
Liver cleansing diets can be harmful as they do not provide all the nutrients you need or may expose your liver to harmful substances. They also don’t work to repair liver damage. If you have liver damage, you can make long-term lifestyle modifications or undergo treatment that can help to reverse this damage.
Fact: Basic liver tests may not be a part of annual check-ups requested by your doctor. Your doctor may not run these tests unless they suspect a possible liver issue.
It is important to discuss any risks for liver disease with your doctor, such as family history, unhealthy drinking, poor diet, diabetes, or if you might have been exposed to a virus in your blood.
