Liver disease rates soaring in Canada
New statistics show that more and more Canadians are dealing with some form of liver disease throughout their life.
According to the Canadian Liver Foundation, one in four Canadians will have to combat some form of liver disease in their lifetime. That number has increased from one in 10 in 2013.
Mohit Arora was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a deadly condition, in 1993 when he was just a baby.
“It’s a difficult thing, because I spent the majority of my childhood in the hospital,” Arora said.
While his outlook wasn’t promising, on his 11th birthday he received a gift of life: a liver transplant. That was 30 years ago.
“Everyone on the health care team … have been a real big help over the years and also just the fact that I’ve been taking care of myself,” he said.
Holly Nyenkamp from the Canadian Liver Foundation, said people may suffer from liver disease and not know it.
“Symptoms aren’t always clear and really by the time your liver has sustained some significant damage, you’re in that further progressed stage of liver disease,” Nyenkamp said.
March is Liver Health Month and a local dietitian told CTV News there are ways people can get on top of their liver health before it becomes an issue.
“Keep track using a food journal and sometimes even a symptom log if they’re experiencing issues to see if there’s a correlation between sometimes what they eat and then some of their symptoms,” said Paula Ross, a registered dietitian in Sudbury.
Experts agree keeping active and limiting sugar and fat in your diet is the best way to stay healthy.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.