Love Your Liver

An odd title for a Chester related website blog post maybe. But an important one. This Monday coming, 26th September, there is going to be, for want of a better description, a liver disease mobile testing unit available in Northgate Street. The campaign has been labelled, “Love Your Liver.” So, do you love your liver enough to pay a visit?

It is free, so for anyone about in town on Monday, it may be worth a visit.

What exactly is entailed with this liver disease testing? Let’s have a look shall we.

Love Your Liver Disease Testing

I must stress that the information below is not my advice. I am not a medical person. No, the following is provided by the British Liver Trust.

Anyway, this is what they say:

Love Your Liver

As already stated above, members of the public in Chester are being encouraged to get their liver checked for free on Monday, September 26, with the arrival of a mobile liver screening roadshow.

Visitors can make the most of this opportunity by going along to the mobile unit on Northgate Street, (outside the Forum Shopping Centre), CH1 2BY from 10am to 4pm. This testing will help them find out some vital information. For instance, find out what preventative measures they can take to keep their liver healthy. And to be offered a free liver scan.

A few facts and statistics. It is reported that one in five adults in Chester may be walking around with liver disease and be completely unaware of this. This is because there are usually no symptoms in the early stages. So says an important warning from the British Liver Trust.

It is also worth knowing that nine in ten cases of liver disease are preventable. The main causes of liver disease being alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis.

Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of British Liver Trust, said: “One in five 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 Love Your Liver roadshow is a great opportunity for people to find out their risk of liver disease. Approximately 20% of the people we scan need to have further checks.”

Love Your Liver Campaign

The British Liver Trust’s ”Love Your Liver“ campaign focuses on three simple steps to ”Love Your Liver” back to health:

(i) Firstly, drink within the recommended limits and have three consecutive days off alcohol every week.

(ii) Cut down on sugar, carbohydrates and fat, and

(iii) Take more exercise.

Very importantly, know the risk factors for viral hepatitis and get tested or vaccinated if at risk. The roadshow comprises a mobile unit where people can take a free online screening test and find out if they are at risk.

Free liver health scanning will also be available using a non-invasive device. There will be expert guidance on how to keep your liver healthy from healthcare professionals who will be on hand to provide advice on diet, exercise and healthy living.

Some More Facts and Figures

The North West has one of the highest mortality rates due to liver disease in England, with 1,838 deaths in the North West in 2020. That is two to three times higher than the national average.

In addition to the roadshow in Chester, the mobile unit will also be turning up at the following locations:

Liverpool – Williamson Square, L1 1EJ – Wednesday, September 28.

Preston – Preston Flag Market, PR1 2AP – Thursday, September 29.

Blackpool – St John’s Square, Church Street, FY1 1DL – Friday, September 30.

If you can’t attend one of these events 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.

Image credits: Nigel Hilier / BLT

I would imagine for people living in Chester, the Liverpool alternative is the next best option. If you don’t know where Williamson Square is, it is just off Church Street, on the right. As landmarks, the same Square as the Playhouse and the Liverpool FC store. Going by train, I would suggest getting off at Liverpool Central. Hope that helps.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

Thanks for reading my latest blog post – “Love Your Liver” – and thanks for visiting my Chester Lifestyle website. It is much appreciated. If you do take a test, I hope everything is in order and your liver is in good health. To read all of my other blog posts on a variety of topics, then head on over to HERE.

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