World Hepatitis Day——Lots of “liver” goods are coming!

Author: Li Jiecheng Peking University People's Hospital

Reviewer: Li Wenhai, Chief Physician, Peking University People's Hospital

The liver is the largest glandular organ in the human body and one of the important organs that is indispensable for maintaining the body's metabolism. The liver not only plays a core role in the metabolism of sugar, fat, protein, vitamins, and hormones, but also has important physiological functions such as secretion, excretion, and biotransformation. The liver actively contributes to maintaining the normal functioning of the body, but its "low-key and silent character" makes it very vulnerable to damage.

1. What behaviors are likely to damage the liver?

Common causes of liver damage include hepatitis virus, alcohol intake, drugs, fatty liver, etc.

1. If you have no knowledge of hepatitis virus, do not know the common sense that most of the liver cancer patients in my country develop from hepatitis B, do not know that hepatitis B is an infectious disease, and do not know that the hepatitis B virus is transmitted through blood or body fluids, then once people around you have hepatitis B and you do not take effective protective measures, you may be infected, and then you may develop cirrhosis or liver cancer based on hepatitis B.

2. If you don’t know that alcohol is mainly metabolized through the liver, and you consume large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time during work and social activities, it may cause alcoholic cirrhosis.

3. If you don’t know that the metabolism and detoxification of drugs also rely on the liver, blindly taking drugs or health products with unknown ingredients may cause drug-induced liver damage, leading to drug-induced hepatitis or even liver failure.

4. If you do not pay attention to fatty liver found during your physical examination, as the inflammation caused by fat in the liver gradually worsens, abdominal ultrasound will show that the fatty liver changes from mild to severe fatty liver, and it may develop into fatty hepatitis or fatty cirrhosis.

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2. What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a general term for all liver inflammations and can generally be divided into five types.

1. Viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is a systemic infectious disease caused by hepatitis viruses, with liver damage as the main disease. Currently, there are five types of viral hepatitis, which are clearly classified by etiology: A, B, C, D, and E.

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2. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a metabolic disease characterized by excessive lipid deposition in liver cells, excluding alcohol and other clear liver damage factors. The disease is closely related to insulin resistance and genetic factors. Fatty liver disease is seriously threatening the health of Chinese people and has become the second largest liver disease after viral hepatitis.

3. Alcoholic hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis refers to a hepatitis disease caused by long-term and excessive drinking, and has a high incidence rate. Among various types of hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis is second only to hepatitis B in terms of harm. Excessive alcohol intake can easily overload the liver, causing liver cell damage, which in turn causes inflammation.

4. Drug-induced hepatitis

Drug-induced hepatitis refers to liver damage caused by drugs. Since the liver is the main organ for drug metabolism, it is very susceptible to the effects of drugs. Drug-induced hepatitis mainly manifests as cholestasis, hepatocyte necrosis, cirrhosis, etc., and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening.

5. Autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is related to autoimmune reactions, and genetic susceptibility is considered to be the main risk factor for autoimmune hepatitis. This disease is more common in women, and in severe cases it can quickly progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver failure.

3. How is hepatitis transmitted?

1. Hepatitis A and E viruses are mainly transmitted through the digestive tract.

2. Hepatitis B, C and D viruses are mainly transmitted through mother-to-child, sexual contact and blood.

3. Hepatitis D virus can only be transmitted at the same time as hepatitis B virus or on the basis of hepatitis B virus infection.

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4. How to prevent hepatitis?

1. Get vaccinated as soon as possible. Currently, the vaccines to prevent hepatitis are mainly hepatitis B, A and E vaccines.

2. Develop good eating and living habits. Do not drink alcohol or drink moderately, control your weight, exercise appropriately, maintain a happy mood, and do not overuse or abuse drugs and health products. Avoid eating moldy, uncooked, raw or cold food. Pay attention to personal hygiene and wash your hands before and after meals.

3. Take good personal protection and do not share razors, toothbrushes, etc. with others. Use various blood products with caution. Use condoms correctly and avoid unsafe sex.

4. Have regular physical examinations. People with chronic liver disease are advised to have a check-up every 3 to 6 months.

5. Pregnant women with viral hepatitis especially need standardized treatment as soon as possible.

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