Cancer and heart disease: global health crisis

Cancer and heart disease remain the leading causes of death globally. Every year lakhs of people in India lose their lives due to non-availability of organs on time. Due to awareness and efforts in this direction, more people are coming forward for organ donation, so that the needy can get organs on time. A recent report has given relief that India has now become the country performing the highest number of liver transplants in the world. This information has been shared by Liver Transplantation Society of India.

deaths due to organ failure

According to medical reports, every year around 5 lakh people in India lose their lives due to lack of organs. On an average, 15 people die every day due to lack of organs. A large number of deaths also occur due to liver failure and lack of timely liver transplant. However, India has made considerable progress in this area. Every year about 30,000 patients can be saved by liver transplant, but only 1,800 get this facility.

Need for liver transplant

This question may arise in your mind that when is liver transplant required? Liver transplant is a surgery in which a damaged or failing liver is removed and a donor liver is replaced. This process is helpful in saving a person’s life. The liver is an important organ of the body, which helps in processing medicines, nutrients and hormones, purifying the blood, producing bile and digesting food.

Due to liver failure

According to experts, liver transplant is a treatment option for people who have end-stage chronic liver disease. It is done when a person’s liver is not functioning normally. The concern is that the number of people waiting for liver transplant exceeds the number of donor livers available. Infections like hepatitis B and C and excessive alcohol consumption cause damage to the liver, increasing the risk of liver failure.

Precautions for liver health

Health experts say that you can keep your liver healthy through some essential measures. A balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins is important for liver health. Intake of unhealthy fats, sugar and processed foods should be reduced. Apart from this, by controlling weight, regular exercise and staying away from alcohol, you can protect the liver from diseases and also avoid complications like liver transplant.