Warning: Popular Painkiller in Ireland Linked to Liver Damage

A stark alert has been sounded over a widely-used medication in Ireland that could be stealthily inflicting damage on your liver. The tablet, commonly taken for ailments ranging from headaches to muscle aches, is typically safe if the advised dose isn't surpassed. Kingston University's senior lecturer in pharmacy practice, Dipa Kamdar, cautioned that even slightly exceeding the recommended amount of this drug can pose \"extremely dangerous\" risks to liver health. While many might think alcohol consumption is the main culprit behind liver harm, Dipa highlighted several \"often overlooked\" daily practices that could lead to grave outcomes like cirrhosis – irreversible liver scarring – or outright liver failure. She pointed out that indulging in high-sugar or high-saturated fat foods, smoking, and insufficient exercise are all potential pathways to these perilous conditions, as is the overconsumption of paracetamol, reports the Mirror.

\"Despite its remarkable resilience – and even its ability to regenerate – the liver is not indestructible,\" Dipa penned in The Conversation. \"One of the challenges with liver disease is that it can be a silent threat. In its early stages, it may cause only vague symptoms like constant fatigue or nausea. As the damage advances, more pronounced indicators can appear. One of the most noticeable is jaundice, where the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow.\"

The WHO indicate a 452% increase in liver deaths between 1971 and 2012 in Ireland. Live disease is also one of the most common illnesses in Ireland. The breakdown of paracetamol in the liver generates a toxic by-product named NAPQI, normally counteracted by glutathione, a protective agent. However, excessive dosages mean the body becomes swamped with toxins, potentially overwhelming the liver. Dipa issued a stark caution: \"In an overdose, glutathione stores become depleted, allowing NAPQI to accumulate and attack liver cells,\" this potentially causing acute liver failure, which may lead to death. \"Even small overdoses, or combining paracetamol with alcohol, can increase the risk of serious harm. Always stick to the recommended dose and speak to a doctor if you find yourself needing pain relief regularly.\"

There’s been a raft of studies concerning the risks associated with paracetamol consumption, some of which ties even minimal doses to liver failure. Writing for The Conversation, University of Oxford's honorary senior research fellow Andrew Moore highlighted: \"Paracetamol is known to cause liver failure in overdose, but it also causes liver failure in people taking standard doses for pain relief. The risk is only about one in a million, but it is a risk.\"

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