Bassetlaw: Doctors urge us all to show our livers some love

The call comes as hundreds of people in Bassetlaw take part in ‘Dry January’ as part of the alcohol awareness month to raise awareness of the risks to people who regularly drink more than the recommended daily guidelines.

Dr Vaithilingam Nanthakumar, lead GP for alcohol at NHS Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group said: “If you like a tipple, stick to the recommended daily allowance or three to four units for men and two to three for women.”

“It is important to take two to three days in a row off from drinking as this will keep your total intake down and gives your liver time to recover.”

“Providing your liver has no lasting damage, it can repair itself very quickly.”

“Some of the benefits of giving up alcohol include improved sleep, weight loss, improved skin and hair quality, and of course saving money.”

“But most importantly, it gives you the chance to review your alcohol consumption and, if you need to, adjust it for the longer term to keep the risks from alcohol low.”

“In many cases, people with liver disease do not have any noticeable symptoms until their liver is badly damaged.

“Early symptoms can include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, feeling tired, fatigue, feeling generally unwell.”

“If you do have any of these symptoms, please go and speak to your GP.”