Members of the public in Reading are being encouraged to get their liver checked for free at Morrisons car park, off Basingstoke Road, RG2 0HB on Thursday 27th March with the arrival of a mobile liver screening roadshow.
One in ten adults in Reading 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.
People can go along to the mobile unit from 10am to 4pm to find out what preventative measures they can take to keep their liver healthy and be offered a free liver scan.
Nine in 10 cases of liver disease are preventable with the main causes being alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis.
Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of 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. Approximately 10% 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:
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.
In addition to the roadshow in Reading, the mobile unit will also be stopping at:
Watford – The Parade (by the pond), WD17 1NA on Tues 29th April
Slough – Outside Queensmere Shopping Centre, High Street, SL1 1DB on Wednesday 30th April
If you can’t attend this 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
