Top tips for summer with Gilbert’s Syndrome

What are the top tips for summer with Gilbert’s Syndrome?

It’s easy to enjoy summer when you have Gilbert’s Syndrome. Just remember a few simple tips to ensure you don’t make your Gilbert’s Syndrome symptoms worse. 

Be careful of the heat!

Gilbert’s Syndrome affects your liver function. Research and advice demonstrate that heat can also significantly affect liver function. In severe cases, it can lead to serious liver damage or even failure. The liver is a vital organ for regulating body temperature and metabolism, and when the body is exposed to excessive heat, it has to work harder.

• Heat Stress and Liver Damage: Extreme heat, such as during a heatwave or intense physical exertion in hot conditions, can lead to heatstroke. A common complication of heatstroke is liver injury, which can range from mild to severe. In some cases, it can progress to acute liver failure, a life-threatening condition.
• Dehydration: Hot weather causes increased sweating, which can lead to dehydration. The liver relies on adequate hydration to function properly, including flushing out toxins. When you’re dehydrated, liver function can slow down, leading to a buildup of toxins in the body. With Gilbert’s Syndrome it’s always important to support your body by drinking lots of water and staying hydrated. 
• Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: Excessive heat can cause inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver. 
• Blood Flow Redistribution: To help the body cool down, blood is redirected to the skin. This can reduce blood flow to the internal organs, including the liver, potentially injuring your liver.
• Itchy skin: this can be a result of you dehydrating and an increase of toxins in the skin; or exposure to creams and chemicals you wouldn’t usually use that irritate sun sensitised skin. Read more about dealing with itchy skin with Gilbert’s Syndrome here: https://gilbertssyndrome.org.uk/itching-and-gilberts-syndrome-2/

To protect your liver in hot weather, it’s essential to:

• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water and other liver-friendly fluids like coconut water or green tea.
• Avoid Strenuous Activity: Limit physical exertion, especially during the hottest parts of the day. Strenuous activity may trigger your Gilbert’s Syndrome symptoms anyway, but be extra cautious in hot weather. 
• Eat a Healthy Diet: Opt for fresh, light foods and avoid processed, fried, and sugary items. It’s a great time of year to access the fruit and vegetables that can most help and support you to feel great and avoid Gilbert’s Syndrome symptoms. Here are more tips on things that you can include in your diet to help you feel healthy with Gilbert’s Syndrome. https://gilbertssyndrome.org.uk/the-liver-diet/
• Limit Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption puts extra strain on the liver, and this effect can be compounded by heat. Read more about Gilbert’s Syndrome and alcohol here: https://gilbertssyndrome.org.uk/alcohol-and-gilberts-syndrome/
• Stay Cool: Seek shade, use air conditioning, and take cool baths or showers to help regulate your body temperature. 

Sources:

• https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Effects-of-heat-stress-on-liver-function-Plasma-concentration-levels-of-AST-black-bars_fig1_327090064
• https://www.vinmec.com/eng/blog/what-to-note-when-cooling-the-liver-in-hot-and-uncomfortable-weather-en#:~:text=From%20the%20point%20of%20view,also%20known%20as%20liver%20heat.
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5516922/#:~:text=All%20cases%20occurred%20between%20May,liver%20transplantation%20in%20refractory%20patients.
• https://continentalhospitals.com/blog/why-you-should-take-extra-care-of-your-liver-during-summer

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