Till now, the percentage of people, who consume alcohol being diagnosed with liver disease was 30. But now that percentage is rising. Sharing these details with ‘The Hitavada’, Dr Tom Cherian, well-known Liver Transplant specialist and Founder of South Asian Liver Institute, Hyderabad said, “It is always said people should drink moderately. But it will be better if they don’t consume liquor at all. Because liver disease is getting detected in many people who consume alcohol.” When asked what alcohol does to liver, Dr Cherian explained, “Frequent use of alcohol leads to severe damage to the liver. Whenever liver filters alcohol, some of its cells die. Obviously, new cell are developed. But prolonged consumption for several years reduces the ability of liver to regenerate the cells. Secondly, liver also resists the process of detoxification affecting, the efficiency of function of liver.”

 

Most people say that ‘Wine with exercise is always good’ which according to Dr Tom Cherian is absolutely rubbish. “Exercise and consuming wine are two different things. If one performs exercise, it surely helps our body and mind. But if one consumes wine and does rigorous exercise, that doesn’t mean one can help oneself preventing damage to liver. Whatever damages are done by liver through alcohol will continue. Nobody should take an escape route,” Dr Cherian made it clear. “People start suffering from liver disease a bit late so nobody gives serious thought to it. Capacity of liver is so good that when its lesser portion gets damaged, it doesn’t affect humans to a large extent. This is the reason where alive people donate part of their liver to their kin to give a lease of life to the recipients.

 

We lose many lives in road accident mostly because of brain injury. If their organs are donated, then we can save several lives through liver transplant,” pointed out Dr Cherian. Dr Cherian advised, “One should have proper Body Mass Index (BMI). Rice should be avoided and wheat rotis should be consumed in moderation. One should consume fresh fruits, raw cucumber, carrot, apart from regular exercise. Millet is also very good.” Dr Cherian has performed over 650 liver transplants with 90% success rate. Dr Cherian’s South Asian Liver Institute has tied up with Wockhardt Hospitals for performing liver transplant. His father, Dr Jecob Cherian, a well known Cardiac Surgeon, received Padma Bhushan for his contribution to community service.