Mission: Successful liver transplants

One of the most vital organs is the liver, which is primarily responsible for detoxification and protein synthesis in the body. Regular consumption of large amounts of alcohol, lack of nutrition and viruses are factors that cause serious problems to the organ. A subtle symptom like drowsiness and a more serious symptom like jaundice are indications of a failing liver. In the event of complete failure of this organ, a person may have no choice but to sign up for a liver transplant. Not only is it an expensive affair, obtaining an organ complementary to the patient’s body can be a time consuming task.

With technological advances, organ transplantation is becoming a common and successful surgical operation. Not only that, contrary to what was previously thought to be impossible, transplant specialists can now perform the transplant with an incompatible liver. A recent transplant at Delhi NCR was completed successfully despite incompatibility. The doctors used immunosuppressive drugs to control the patient’s body.

As the average modern family adopts poor lifestyle choices, a survey has revealed that almost a quarter of the total population of children is prone to liver disease. This is due to the consumption of junk food which, in most cases, leads to obesity. The World Health Organization states that there are around 2.5 lakh patients who die from liver complication every year. Which means that one in five people in India suffer from liver disease. That’s not all, out of a staggering 25,000 patients who require a transplant, only 5% of patients actually get a new organ.

The problem persists not only in India. More than half of the patients who travel from Pakistan to India for medical treatment come with liver health problem such as hepatitis B and C. Congenital and liver diseases in children and autoimmune diseases are two other major reasons for patients travel to India in hopes of receiving proper treatment. Two main factors: the absence of language barriers and seamless connectivity are the reasons why more than 500 Pakistanis have successfully obtained a liver transplant in India. Leading hospitals like Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare and Max Healthcare are leaders in terms of medical tourism and the best doctors in these hospitals attract potential patients in neighboring countries like Pakistan.

With the right diet and lifestyle, excessive liver damage can be stopped. Proper knowledge of the causes and symptoms of liver disease can also help people get treatment before complete organ failure or cirrhosis occurs. As the second largest organ in the body, the liver works hard every day. Be sure to take care of this vital part of your body by picking up antioxidant-rich broccoli, vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes, vitamin C-rich lemons, apples, onions, and even garlic.