Liver Disease
There are over 100 types of liver disease, affecting at least 2 million people in the UK, including alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatitis.
While some liver problems are temporary and go away on their own, others can get progressively worse and result in serious complications. What’s more, liver problems may be more common than you think.
Information about liver disease
The NHS website has detailed information about liver disease, including types, symptoms and how to prevent it.
Local support for Liver Disease
Your lifestyle can affect your liver. Choices like how much you drink or what you eat may make you more likely to develop the condition.
Alcohol-related liver disease
How much do you drink? How often? Everyone is different but you may want to think about your drinking habits and behaviours. Drinkaware has resources about your drinking habits and what action you can take.
Find out how much you drink using the Drinkaware calculator.
There are a range of local support groups available to help people in recovery from problematic alcohol use:
- We Are With You North Somerset run alcohol support groups in Weston-super-Mare
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provides local meetings for alcoholics, those who think they might have a problem with alcohol and their friends and family
- Bristol Drugs Project runs self-help support groups and creative groups in Bristol
- Developing Health & Independence (DHI) offer information and advice in South Gloucestershire
- Recovery Orientated Alcohol and Drugs Service (ROADS) supports people recovering from their dependency on alcohol.
Local councils also provide information about the support available:
- Bristol Council alcohol misuse treatment
- North Somerset Council alcohol misuse information
- South Gloucestershire Council alcohol treatment and help
Diet and lifestyle related liver disease
If you are overweight, you are at risk of liver disease. This condition is called Non-Alcohol Related Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).
The British Liver Trust
The British Liver Trust is a UK charity that supports patients and families of those with liver disease. They aim to raise awareness of risk to the liver and fund research to find causes and treatments for liver disease.