One in five adults in Scotland may be walking around with liver disease and be completely unaware because there are usually no symptoms in the early stages, warns the British Liver Trust.
The Love Your Liver mobile screening and scanning unit will be visiting six locations disease across Scotland between 15th to 20th May 2022.
Members of the public are invited to the Love Your Liver roadshow at the following locations where they can assess their risk of getting liver disease, find out what preventative measures they can take to keep their liver healthy and be offered a free liver scan.
Inverness Falcon Square, Eastgate Shopping Centre, IV2 3PP Sunday 15/5/22
Perth High Street (outside Debenhams), PH1 5UL Monday 16/5/22
EDINBURGH
Mound Precinct, EH2 2EL Tuesday 17/5/22
Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, EH99 1SP Wednesday 18/5/22
Glasgow Argyle Street (outside Superdrug), G2 8AG Thursday 19/5/22
Ayr Heathfield Retail Park, KA8 9BF Friday 20/5/22
Pamela Healy, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust, said, “One in three of us are at risk of liver disease and the numbers of people being diagnosed increased at an alarming rate during the pandemic.
“Liver damage develops silently with no signs or symptoms and people often don’t realise they have a problem until it is too late. Although the liver is remarkably resilient, if left until symptoms appear, the damage is often irreversible.
“The Love Your Liver roadshow is a great opportunity for people to find out their risk of liver disease and the first one hundred people to attend will receive a free non-invasive scan. Approximately 20% of the people we scan need to have further checks.”
The British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver campaign focuses on three simple steps to Love Your Liver back to health:
- Drink within recommended limits and have three consecutive days off alcohol every week
- Cut down on sugar, carbohydrates and fat, and take more exercise
- Know the risk factors for viral hepatitis and get tested or vaccinated if at risk.
The roadshow comprises a mobile unit where people can take a free online screening test and find out if they are at risk. Free liver health scanning will also be available using a non-invasive device.
There will be expert guidance on how to keep your liver healthy from healthcare professionals who will be on hand to provide advice on diet, exercise and healthy living.
Anyone wishing to take advantage of these free events should attend between 10am and 4pm.
If you wish to be scanned please arrive early as places are limited.
If you can’t attend the event you can still find out if you are at risk and check your liver health online by doing the online screening test at:
https://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/screener