SCOTS are being urged to hop aboard a mobile screening unit to help prevent them joining the growing number of liver disease cases in the country.
The British Liver Trust will bring their ‘Love Your Liver’ roadshow to Scotland over the weekend in a bid to raise awareness of the fact that most cases are preventable.
Free liver checks will be offered at St Nicholas Street in Aberdeen on Saturday and City Square, Dundee on Sunday.
The latest data from Public Health Scotland shows that 54 people died from liver disease in the Dundee region alone last year, and the British Liver Trust estimates that over 90% of these deaths could have been prevented.
This comes after recent research revealed that as many as one in eight people over the age of forty in Britain are unaware that they suffer from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the more serious form of fatty liver disease which is potentially life-threatening.
The roadshow will head to Glasgow’s George Square on Monday and The Mound Precinct, Edinburgh on Tuesday.
It’s supported by a grant from National Lottery Scotland, and aims to reach the one in five people in the country who may have the early stages of liver disease.
Judi Rhys, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust said: “Liver disease affects millions of people in the UK – and the numbers diagnosed have been increasing at an alarming rate.
“It is a silent killer and people often don’t realise they have a problem until it is too late. Although the liver is remarkably resilient, if left until there are signs the damage is often irreversible.”
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.
For more information visit www.britishlivertrust.org.uk//love-your-liver
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