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For Your Health — Surprising Ways to Boost Your Liver HealthBy Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center Most of us don’t think too much about the liver. And that’s normal. Hearts and lungs seem to get many more health headlines and social media posts. But like all organs, the liver quietly does really important work. Among other jobs, it clears toxins from the body, stores energy and helps with immunity. So, there are a lot of great reasons for us to take steps to improve our liver health. And none is bigger than helping lower the risk of liver cancer. “Liver cancer doesn’t get as much attention as some other cancers, but it’s serious,” said Yikyung Park, a cancer researcher and professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences at WashU Medicine. “Although it’s not one of the most common cancers, it is a leading cause of death from cancer — ranked 5th in men and 7th in women.” Key causes of liver cancer include heavy alcohol drinking, infection with the viruses hepatitis B or hepatitis C, and scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis. Smoking, obesity, diabetes and a condition called fatty liver disease also increase risk. And many of these factors can overlap with each other. The good news? “Liver cancer is preventable,” Park added. “Reducing risk factors and getting regular medical care are important, especially for people who know they already have some type of liver disease.” Work on boosting your liver health with these steps: Get a screening test for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Infection with these viruses can damage the liver and increase the risk for cancer. And most people who have them may feel normal and not know anything is wrong. Hepatitis C can be treated, and therapies can limit damage from hepatitis B, so it’s recommended that all adults get a simple blood test for each. It’s usually just a one-time appointment. Ask your doctor or clinic about it. Get vaccinated for hepatitis B. This is a very safe and effective way to prevent infection with hepatitis B. While most adults in the U.S. have been vaccinated, many have not. So, ask your doctor if you should get the vaccine, and encourage the new parents and expectant parents in your life to follow guidelines and protect their children with the vaccine as well. Limit alcohol — zero is best. Limiting how much we drink is an important way to lower the risk of liver diseases and liver cancer. And with the many other risks from moderate — and even light — drinking, not drinking is the healthiest choice overall. Maintain a healthier weight — focus on healthy eating and physical activity. Weight gain and obesity increase the risk of a condition called fatty liver disease, which is an increasingly common cause of liver cancer in the U.S. Being physically active and eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help keep weight in check. Together, they can also help lower the risk of diabetes — another risk factor for liver cancer. If you’re looking for help with your weight, talk to your doctor or health clinic for advice. Don’t smoke — get help quitting if you do. Liver cancer is one of the many cancers caused by smoking. If you don’t smoke, be sure to stay smoke-free. If you do smoke, try to quit. You can do it. Smokefree.gov and 1-800-QUIT-NOW have many free tools that can help. If you have liver disease, see a doctor regularly. Keeping up with medical care for your liver disease is very important. It can help lower the risk of developing cancer — and if cancer does happen to develop, it can help find it earlier when it’s more treatable. A recent international report in The Lancet highlighted the power that prevention can have, estimating that 60% of liver cancers across the globe could be avoided with steps most of us could take. Park concluded by saying that while some people think that only heavy drinkers get liver cancer, drinking is just one of many important behaviors that impact risk for the disease: “Simple actions can have real benefits. Knowing hepatitis B and hepatitis C status and making lifestyle changes — like not smoking, eating a healthy diet and getting to a healthier weight — can lower the risk of liver disease — and the risk of liver cancer.” Dr. Graham A. Colditz leads prevention research at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine in St. Louis. Much of his work focuses on translating research findings into tools and tips that help people lower their risk of disease and improve their health — including the 8IGHT WAYS® to Prevent Cancer series.

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By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center Most of us don’t think too much about the liver, and that’s normal. Hearts and lungs seem to get many more health headlines and social media posts. But like all organs, the liver quietly does really important work. Among other jobs, it clears toxins from the body,…

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For Your Health — Make Health Gains with Whole Grains

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By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center If someone asked us to name five ways to improve our health and lower the risk of illness, “eat a healthy diet” would probably land on most of our lists, and it certainly belongs there. Research has shown that healthy eating could prevent over 80,000 cancer cases…

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For Your Health — 15 Small Steps With Big Rewards

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By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center Surveys show that most of us place a high priority on our health and wellness. That’s probably not surprising to hear. But as common a goal as improving health is, it can sometimes feel like a mystery how we can actually work toward it, with busy days…

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For Your Health — Staying Cool and Sun-Safe this Summer

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By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center Food sizzling on the grill is one of the classic sounds of summer, right up there with kids splashing in sprinklers and the crack of a bat at the ballpark. That sizzling can also be a good stand-in for how we might feel outside on a sweltering…

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For Your Health — Make Wellness Part of Summer Fun

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By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center There’s always the same 24 hours in a day, but somehow when we hit spring, it can seem like we get some extra time. With more daylight and warmer weather, the days can just feel like they’re expanding. With that shift can come a boost in our…

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For Your Health — Move More, Live Better

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By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center      It’s likely no surprise to read that physical activity is good for us. In fact, it may be hard to go a full day without seeing something positive about exercise and physical activity on the news or social media. What can sometimes get lost in all that,…

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For Your Health – Healthy Eating Tips for National Nutrition Month

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  By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center      March is National Nutrition Month, prompting me to wonder how often this column focuses on the links between what we eat and our health and well-being. The short answer is: a lot. Over the years, it’s been fairly rare that we don’t address eating in one…

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For Your Health – A Painless Test for Lung Cancer That Saves Lives

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By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center      Our progress against lung cancer is something to celebrate. Millions of lives have been saved in the U.S. alone since rates of smoking began to drop in the mid-1960s. As smoking continues to become less common and treatment improves, we expect to gain even more ground against…

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