MEN and women in Warrington have a chance to get a free health check with the arrival of a mobile liver screening roadshow next week.
The British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver roadshow will be in town on Tuesday to raise awareness of liver disease.
Members of the public can go along to the mobile unit at Buttermarket Street from 10am to 4pm to assess their risk of getting liver disease, find out what preventative measures they can take to keep their liver healthy and have a free liver scan.
Pamela Heal, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said, “One in three of us are at risk of liver disease and the numbers of people being diagnosed have been increasing at an alarming rate. 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 100 people to attend will receive a free non-invasive scan. Approximately 20 per cent of the people we scan need to have further checks.”
The North West has some of the highest hospital admission for liver disease rates in England. More than 10,500 are admitted to hospital with liver disease in the region each year and the British Liver Trust estimates 90 per cent of these admissions could have been prevented.
The Love Your Liver campaign focuses on three simple steps:
1. Drink within recommended limits and have three consecutive days off alcohol every week
2. Cut down on sugar, carbohydrates and fat, and take more exercise
3. 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.
If you can’t attend the event in Warrington, 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
