​National Liver Awareness Month - National Liver Awareness Month encourages you to act early and be safe in preventing liver disease.

​National Liver Awareness Month 2025 – October 2025

National Liver Awareness Month in October encourages you to act early and be safe in preventing liver disease. Did you know that almost 33,000 Americans die annually from liver cancer every year, according to the American Liver Foundation? Risk factors leading to cirrhosis include chronic viral hepatitis, obesity, alcoholism, as well as poor lifestyle choices. But there is hope. With early detection, you can double your survival rate. National Liver Awareness Month has events planned all over the country to keep you informed about that heavy lifter in your body, the liver.

History of National Liver Awareness Month

Until the seventeenth century, the liver was believed to be the origin of blood, with Roman philosophers describing the organ as warm and moist, and “the source of the veins and the principal instrument of blood production.” Several ancient scholars also assumed that a fire perpetually burned in the liver, leading them to consider it the spot where the human soul resided. Liver ailments have been known to mankind for centuries. Autopsies performed on Egyptian mummies showed liver damage caused by a widespread parasitic infection called Bilharziasis. The Greek physician Hippocrates described liver abscess in 400 B.C. and the mythological story “Prometheus” also implies that the Greeks may have been aware of the liver’s ability to regenerate from severe damage.The first liver transplant was performed by Francis Moore on a dog in 1958. The first human liver transplant was in 1963 and was performed by Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, setting the precedent for liver treatments still performed to this day. Recently we have begun to start observing National Liver Awareness Month. The annual occurrence serves to highlight the importance of the organ and to celebrate and medical discoveries made by scientists.

National Liver Awareness Month timeline

​2011
​Hep C awareness campaign

Natalie Cole and Greg Allman joined forces to launch the "Tune in to Hep C" nationwide campaign on preventing this chronic viral infection of the liver.

​1995
​ Scientists petitioned Congress

​Leading researchers and members of the scientific community drafted a Research Agenda to present to members of Congress spelling out the need to find a cure for liver diseases.

1963
A First

​Dr. Thomas Starzl performed the first liver transplant ever recorded.

1950
Scientists and physicians gathered

​​The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases assembled scientists and medical professionals to brainstorm ways to prevent and cure liver disease.

​1870
​First liver surgery

​The very first hepatic or liver-related surgery took place.

​National Liver Awareness Month FAQs

What can I do for Liver Awareness Month?

Make sure to schedule wellness checkups with your doctor, as well as choosing to live with healthy habits.

What can I do to sign up as a liver donor?

If you’re interested in being a liver donor speak to your local hospital.

What month is liver disease awareness?

Liver disease awareness month is in October.

How to Observe National Liver Awareness Month

  1. Have a Lunch and Learn at work or school

    Who doesn't love a Lunch and Learn? This kind of event is tailor-made for National Liver Awareness Month. Invite a speaker — or better yet — a panel of health educators to share a sandwich and some knowledge about liver disease prevention. Include a survivor with a compelling story.

  2. Walk Your Talk and Get Involved

    This month, make a real personal connection by volunteering during special events — or helping in the office for organizations like the American Liver Foundation or the American Cancer Society. Become an advocate on social media. You really can make a difference.

  3. Bring Liver Disease Out of the Closet

    If you've been silently struggling with liver disease, use this month to go public. Share your story loudly and proudly because you are not alone. Someone else may be in denial about their illness or simply following negative behaviors. Writing a post or even a blog can raise everybody's awareness. And after all, that is what National Liver Awareness Month is all about.

5 Facts About Your Liver

  1. It’s your heaviest internal organ

    An average adult liver can weigh up to three pounds, the size of a Chihuahua!

  2. It can grow back

    The liver is the only organ that can completely regenerate, needing as little as a quarter of its original tissue to do so.

  3. It holds a lot of blood.

    At any given time, your liver can have 10 percent of your body’s blood in it.

  4. Does a ton of jobs.

    From filtering blood to producing bile, our liver performs around 200 important functions for the body.

  5. It takes an hour to metabolize a cocktail.

    The liver can process one ounce of liquor in one hour, the average amount in a mixed drink.

Why National Liver Awareness Month is Important

  1. It's all about loving our liver

    The liver is the heavyweight champion of our bodies. It's our second largest organ — and sits right under your rib cage on your right side. Even though your liver weighs only about three pounds, it is the hardest- working organ. The liver functions to cleanse toxins, produce energy and help your digestion. Bottom line, you gotta love your liver because it works so hard keeping all the bad stuff out of your blood.

  2. Choose wellness over disease

    Watch your weight, eat a balanced diet, and exercise regularly to avoid diseases like Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Look out for toxins lurking in your environment that can damage your precious liver cells. When you use cleaning products or insecticides, make sure the room has good ventilation. Bottom line, you only have one liver and you can't live without it.

  3. Drugs and alcohol are not the only villains of liver disease

    Anyone can have liver disease including young children. Unfortunately, many people assume that if someone develops this illness, they may be abusing drugs or alcohol. Not true. The American Liver Foundation reports that obesity and hepatitis B and C infections are also culprits in liver disease. Still, if you drink, do it in moderation because alcohol can destroy and scar your liver. Lastly, never use illicit drugs because the high isn't worth sacrificing your liver.

National Liver Awareness Month dates

Year Date Day
2023 October 1 Sunday
2024 October 1 Tuesday
2025 October 1 Wednesday
2026 October 1 Thursday
2027 October 1 Friday
International Coffee Day
World Vegetarian Day
​International Day of Older Persons
Chinese National Day
National Black Dog Day
National Homemade Cookies Day
National Walk and Bike to School Day
National Hair Day
National Fire Pup Day
Maha Navami
National Lace Day
CD Player Day
Model T Day
International Music Day
Balloons Around the World Day
National Kale Day
National Pumpkin Seed Day
Filipino American History Month
World Ballet Day
International Walk to School Day
National Day of China
Ayudha Puja
Mahanavami
Navami of Durga Puja
Teacher's Day in Uzbekistan
ROK Alliance Day
Nigeria Independence Day
Coffee with a Cop Day
Cyprus Independence Day
World Sake Day
Tuvalu Independence Day
Semana Morazánica
International Raccoon Appreciation Day
Nepal: Maha Navami
Investiture of the Captains Regent in San Marino
FGTeeV Chase's Birthday
Peter Thomas's Birthday
Julie Andrews's Birthday
Latisha Scott's Birthday
Dorian Hunter's Birthday
Jurnee Smollett-Bell's Birthday
Matthew Daddario's Birthday
Priah Ferguson's Birthday
Delianna Urena's Birthday
Zach Galifianakis's Birthday
Nathaniel Drew's Birthday
Myles Parrish's Birthday
RD Benji's Birthday
Brie Larson's Birthday
Drew Chadwick's Birthday
Isis King's Birthday
National Walk Your Dog Week
Elderly Filipino Week
Health Literacy Month
​​Italian American Heritage Month
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Emotional Wellness Month
German American Heritage Month
National Caramel Month
National Chili Month
​National Dental Hygiene Month
​National Depression Education and Awareness Month
National Dessert Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Pasta Month
National Pickled Peppers Month
​National Pizza Month
​National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
National Pretzel Month
National Sausage Month
Polish American Heritage Month
​Fair Trade Month
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Vegetarian Month
National Chiropractic Month
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
​Blindness Awareness Month
AIDS Awareness Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
​National ADHD Awareness Month
​National Critical Illness Awareness Month
​National Ergonomics Month
​National Liver Awareness Month
​National Protect Your Hearing Month
​Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
​World Menopause Month
​National Physical Therapy Month
​National Book Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
National Crime Prevention Month
Church Library Month
Halloween Safety Month
Go Sober For October
Italian American Heritage and Culture Month
Financial Planning Month
International Walk To School Month
National Apple Month
National Non-GMO Month
National Pescatarian Month
Celebrate The Bilingual Child Month
Bat Appreciation Month
National Cookie Month
National Medical Librarians Month
​National Learning and Development Month
Contact Lens Safety Month
Country Music Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Church Safety and Security Month
Head Start Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
National Arts & Humanities Month
National Cookbook Month
Long Term Care Planning Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National LGBT History Month
​National Bullying Prevention Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
World Animal Month
Unblocktober
National Pet Wellness Month
World Autism Month
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month
World Habitat Awareness Month
Museums and Galleries Month
National Pitbull Awareness Month
Squirrel Awareness Month
National Orthodontic Health Month
​​Global Diversity Awareness Month
Family History Month
International School Libraries Month
Hog Out Month
Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month
​Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Work and Family Month
​National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
The Big Draw
National Indigenous Peoples Month
American Pharmacists Month
Black Speculative Fiction Month
​Healthy Lung Month