Have you been drinking to much? Here’s a test that will tell you

With Dry January well in the rear-view mirror many of us – myself included – are drowning our winter blues in the bottom of a comforting glass of wine. This feels good at 6pm but has often left me worrying later in bed about the state of my liver.  So, here’s what I did to put my mind at ease.

The Liver Clinic at the John Bell and Croydon pharmacy offers comprehensive testing and support for the body’s most unloved organ. According to National Statistics, liver disease is currently the number three killer in UK but by 2030 will be number one. 

Although your liver is constantly regenerating (fun fact – the average age of liver tissue is three years old), once you hit 50, the size of your liver shrinks as other organs surrounding it age. Blood flow becomes suboptimal hence why older people get worse hangovers. The second-largest organ in your body, your liver has some 500 critical jobs including removing all toxins, clearing medication from your body and metabolizing all your food. It also adjusts cholesterol levels, builds proteins and makes bile, which helps you absorb fats, store sugar and regulates hormone levels. Phew.

The Liver Fibroscan (£249) is the gold standard of liver diagnostics. It is a painless test that takes ten minutes and detects inflammation, measuring liver fat and stiffness.  The small device works like an ultrasound producing high-frequency sound waves it creates an image of inside of the liver showing fatty deposits and measuring scar tissue for stiffness.

Thankfully however this result is only valid for about three months positive lifestyle changes can change your score significantly so annual fibroscan’s are recommended. For patients who want to improve their scores the clinic recommends De-liver-ance (from £23.99), a plant-based ‘phytomedicine’ made of root extracts. that optimises liver function but also increases mental clarity for 6 hours, boosts immunity, and mood.