Drinking alcohol harms the liver? Doctor's reminder: Long term heavy drinking can lead to alcoholic liver disease and fatty liver disease
The concept of "drinking harms the liver" has deeply rooted in people's hearts, but there are still many people who hold the mentality of taking chances and believe that "drinking lightly is beneficial for the mood". But doctors remind that the damage of alcohol to the liver is cumulative over time
The concept of "drinking harms the liver" has deeply rooted in people's hearts, but there are still many people who hold the mentality of taking chances and believe that "drinking lightly is beneficial for the mood". But doctors remind that the damage of alcohol to the liver is cumulative over time. If consumed in large amounts over a long period of time, it can lead to a series of liver diseases such as alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis.
Recently, a 46 year old male patient developed symptoms such as yellowing and liver pain after drinking alcohol. Upon examination, it was found that the patient was suffering from alcoholic liver disease.
Long term heavy drinking can cause damage to liver cells, significantly increasing the fat content in the liver, leading to fatty liver and, in severe cases, alcoholic hepatitis.
When alcoholic hepatitis occurs, patients may experience symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, aversion to oil, and jaundice. However, the symptoms of liver cirrhosis are similar to those of alcoholic hepatitis, so many patients do not care.
Doctor's reminder: Alcoholic liver disease develops rapidly and usually only mild fatty liver disease occurs at the beginning. If not controlled and treated, it can lead to severe liver damage. When it develops to a certain extent, cirrhosis will occur.
So for people who drink alcohol for a long time, in addition to reducing alcohol consumption, regular examinations and treatment should also be conducted to prevent further worsening of the condition.
Under the advice of the doctor, the patient began to quit drinking and receive treatment. At present, the patient has successfully quit drinking and stopped taking medication.
Alcohol causes great harm to the human body. If alcohol is consumed without restraint, the ethanol components in alcohol will stimulate liver cells, leading to liver cell degeneration and necrosis, leading to alcoholic liver disease.
At the same time, acetaldehyde, a metabolite of ethanol, can also cause steatosis, necrosis and regeneration of liver cells. In addition, when the human body consumes too many carbohydrates, they will be converted into fat and accumulated in the liver. Excessive accumulation of fat can also lead to a series of liver diseases such as cirrhosis.
To protect liver health, it is important to pay attention to lifestyle habits, such as:
Stay up late less: Long term staying up late can overload the liver, and in severe cases, it can also lead to liver damage.
Drinking less: The metabolism of alcohol is mainly in the liver, and long-term drinking can make the liver overwhelmed.
Eat more vegetables: Fresh vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamins and fiber, which can promote intestinal peristalsis, help the body detoxify, and thus protect the liver.
Exercise: Exercise can promote metabolism, consume excess fat in the body, and reduce the burden on the liver.
Maintaining a good mood: Prolonged exposure to negative emotions such as depression, anxiety, and anger can affect the normal functioning of the liver.
For patients who already have liver disease, it is important to pay attention to their lifestyle habits and not take medication indiscriminately like before. If the symptoms worsen, please go to the hospital for examination in a timely manner.
1) Long term heavy drinkers: According to current research, long-term alcohol consumption is one of the main risk factors for alcoholic liver disease.
2) Male: The incidence of alcoholic liver disease in males is significantly higher than that in females, and males who drink alcohol for a long time are more likely to develop alcoholic liver disease than females.
3) Alcoholics: If you have had liver damage, such as fatty liver, hepatitis, and other diseases, you are more likely to develop alcoholic liver disease.
4) Obese individuals: Long term heavy drinking can lead to the accumulation of fat in the body, and diseases such as fatty liver and hepatitis can lead to liver damage. Therefore, obese individuals and those with a history of hepatitis are also prone to alcoholic liver disease.
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