Story
The liver is the largest gland, and the largest solid organ in the body, weighing 1.8kg in men and 1.3kg in women! The liver is fascinating and has over 500 functions, holding approximately 13% of your total blood supply.
Anyone can develop liver disease, but there are some things which cause it to be more common such as alcohol and unhealthy diet other causes of liver disease can be genetic and autoimmune diseases.
Liver disease is the third leading cause of premature death in the UK and is on the rise. Since 1970, deaths due to liver disease have increased by 400%. Every day, over 40 people die from liver disease in the UK. This is in stark contrast to other major killer diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, in which the number of deaths have either remained stable or decreased.
94% of British adults associate alcohol with liver disease and people with liver disease often feel stigmatised. There are many causes of liver disease and one in five adults drink in a way that could cause their liver harm.
Around 1000 liver transplants are performed each year, and there are 350 people on the liver transplant list at any time.
The British Liver trust is a charity which aims to support people affected by liver disease, improve early detection, drive up standards and care for people affected by liver disease by increasing awareness and peoples understanding. Its aim is also to campaign for policy changes that make it easier for everyone to be healthier by working in support research to do so (British Liver Trust, 2022).
Staff working at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS trust on the 21st of May will be hiking up Pen Y Fan to raise money for the British Liver Trust. Our walk will consist of nurses, nursing assistants, domestic staff, doctors and specialist nurses all extremely fond of caring for patients with liver disease. We have an extreme passion for supporting a charity so close to home if you are able to spare some money for our charity walk please contribute to our just giving page!
Many Thanks