How does liver cirrhosis come about? Let’s start with the two “natural enemies” that the liver fears the most.

The liver, as the "master of detoxification" in our body, works hard for us silently every day. However, do you know that there are two "natural enemies" that are quietly attacking it, and many people are unaware of it, and even have "close contact" with them every day. Today, let's talk about the two things that the liver fears the most , hoping to attract everyone's attention and protect our little liver together.

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Alcohol: The liver's sweet burden

Alcohol is a "frequent visitor" in many people's lives, but it is a "devil" to the liver. After alcohol enters the human body, it will undergo a series of complex metabolic processes in the liver. First, it is converted into acetaldehyde through alcohol dehydrogenase . This acetaldehyde is not simple. It is like a "small knife" that will directly damage liver cells. Then, acetaldehyde is metabolized into acetic acid through acetaldehyde dehydrogenase , and finally becomes carbon dioxide and water and is excreted from the body.

However, many people will blush after drinking. This is actually a warning from the body! Blushing is caused by the lack of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in the body, which causes acetaldehyde to accumulate in the body . The liver can't stand it, so it reminds you through the "red face": Don't drink, I'm almost dying!

Although the liver has a strong regenerative capacity, it is somewhat powerless in the face of alcohol, the "nemesis". Long-term heavy drinking will not only directly damage liver cells, but also inhibit the liver's self-repair function. Alcohol will also affect the liver's ability to metabolize fat, causing fat to accumulate in liver cells and slowly develop into fatty liver. If not controlled, it will further deteriorate into alcoholic hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer.

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According to statistics, if men consume ≥30 grams of alcohol per day and women consume ≥20 grams, the risk of developing alcoholic liver disease will be greatly increased. If you consume 40-80 grams of alcohol per day for 5 years, you may get alcoholic fatty liver disease. After 10-15 years, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis may come knocking. The prevalence of alcoholic liver disease in my country is also increasing year by year. Drinking has become the second largest cause of liver damage after viruses. As many as 500,000 people lose their lives every year due to cirrhosis caused by alcoholic liver disease worldwide. This is not a small number!

Obesity: The Silent Killer of the Liver

In addition to alcohol, obesity is also a major "enemy" of the liver. Now that living conditions have improved, more and more obese people are becoming obese, and the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has also soared. One in every four adults in the world suffers from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In China, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among obese people is as high as 63%-85%. Even thin people are not immune, with a prevalence of more than 10%. What's more frightening is that fatty liver disease does not even spare children. Many parents always think that children are cute only when they are "white and fat", and they feed their children desperately, which can lead to obesity, fatty liver disease, and even cirrhosis of the liver.

The liver itself is a very "hardworking" organ. It works tirelessly and can maintain the body's basic metabolism even if only 20% of its energy is left. But because of this, people with liver disease often don't feel anything at first. By the time they feel uncomfortable, it may have reached the late stage of the disease. Fatty liver is such a "hidden killer". It develops slowly and can affect anyone regardless of fat or thin. Many people only find out that they have fatty liver during a physical examination or B-ultrasound.

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How to protect liver?

1. Stop drinking

For people who have already suffered fatty liver changes due to alcohol, early alcohol abstinence is reversible. Generally, fatty liver will significantly subside 2-6 weeks after quitting drinking. If you persist in quitting drinking for 1 year and cooperate with the doctor's liver protection treatment, liver damage can usually be cured. But unfortunately, many alcoholics do not listen to advice at all. They know that drinking will affect their condition, but they still drink.

2. Weight loss

Weight loss of more than 7%-10% can significantly slow down the occurrence and progression of liver fibrosis. In terms of diet, it is necessary to eat low-sugar and low-fat foods, eat less fructose-containing foods such as fruit juice, lactic acid drinks, desserts, etc., reduce the intake of saturated fat and trans fat, and eat as little animal fat, palm oil, and fried foods as possible. Eat more foods rich in dietary fiber, such as beans, whole grains, vegetables and fruits.

At the same time, moderate exercise is also recommended. It is recommended to do moderate aerobic exercise such as cycling, brisk walking, swimming, and dancing, more than 4 times a week, with a cumulative time of 150-250 minutes. It is best to add 2-3 times of light or moderate muscle training per week, such as lifting dumbbells, push-ups, elastic bands, etc.

3. Regular physical examination

After fatty liver is diagnosed, it is recommended to have an abdominal ultrasound or liver elasticity test every 6 months. If liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are already present, hepatobiliary tumor markers (AFP/CA199/CEA) should also be checked at the same time.