Water, for most people, is the easiest route to good health, but hardly anyone thinks that a glass of water consumed every day could silently poison their liver.
Several medical studies show that the quality and method of storage of water are important factors in determining the reaction of our body towards it. Heavy metals, pesticides or microplastics, which may not even be visible to the naked eye, can enter the body and build up gradually, straining the liver’s detoxification process. According to doctors and experts, the problem is not hydration itself, but what hides in apparently pure water, making an essential habit a health risk.
While hydration aids digestion, boosts metabolism, and eliminates toxins, doctors now caution that unsafe or chemically treated water does the opposite. Two of the most lethal infections associated with unsafe water are Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E. These viruses invade the liver and make it swell. Individuals tend to develop yellowing of the eyes, dark urine, tiredness, and occasionally swelling of the abdomen with fluid accumulation. In the majority of patients, the body heals, and the liver recovers since it is capable of regeneration. However, in other patients, the infection is overwhelming such that massive liver cells are killed. This, if it occurs, can lead to acute liver failure, and the condition may become fatal. In conversation with The Daily Jagran, Dr. Sanjeev Rohatgi, Consultant – Surgical Gastroenterology HPB & Liver Transplant Surgery, Manipal Hospital, Whitefield, Bangalore, shares how water contamination fuels liver damage.
Other Waterborne Threats
Other than viral infections, waterborne diseases like amoebiasis may also attack the liver by creating abscesses. Dr. Sanjeev Rohatgi states, “Bacterial infections like E. coli, Salmonella, and typhoid are also prevalent in dirty water.” Although they might not at all times lead to complete liver failure, they still compromise the liver and contribute to its workload.
The Hidden Danger of Heavy Metals
Another peril that is far too common but in no way superficial is heavy metal contamination. Waste from factories tends to seep into bodies of water, infusing them with such poisons as mercury, lead, and arsenic. Dr. Sanjeev Rohatgi says, “Consuming these metals through the water can gradually harm the liver.” A few patients who were exposed have become chronically ill with disease of liver disease or even liver failure.
Water Contamination Fuels Liver Damage (Image Credits: Canva)
Protecting Health Through Safe Water
The liver is incredibly robust, but it cannot endure ongoing injury. Infection, toxins, and chronic inflammation can overwhelm it beyond repair. When the liver does collapse, the effects are disastrous and occasionally irreversible.
The message is unmistakable: safeguarding water quality is safeguarding health. Clean, safe drinking water must be regarded as a non-negotiable imperative. It avoids infection, protects the liver, and protects life. All communities and families have to demand clean water, since each glass of secure water is a long-term investment in health.