A free liver screening roadshow is taking place on the Flag Market.

Prestonians are being encouraged to take up the health check as part of the British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver roadshow.

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The first 100 people to attend will receive a free non-invasive scan at the mobile unit. Others will be able to take an online screening test to assess their risk of getting liver disease.

There will also be expert guidance from healthcare professionals on how to keep the liver healthy, including advice on diet, exercise and healthy living.

Pamela Healy OBE, 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 one hundred people to attend will receive a free non-invasive scan. Approximately 20 per cent of the people we scan need to have further checks.”

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The north west has some of the highest hospital admission rates for liver disease in England. Over 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 British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver campaign focuses on three steps:

1. Drink within the 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 is coming to the Flag Market on Saturday 18 May from 10am to 4pm.

If you can’t attend the Flag Market roadshow, you can still find out if you are at risk and check your liver health online by doing the online screening test.

Will you be going to the screening? Let us know in the comments below.