World Liver Day 2023: The liver is one of the most important and complex organs in the human body. It not only helps in the digestion of food, filtration of toxins and regulation of blood sugar and cholesterol levels, but also helps fight various infections and diseases.
On the occasion of World Liver Day 2023, let us commit to reducing alcohol consumption as it seriously affects the liver. While excessive alcohol consumption has the potential to damage almost every organ, it affects the liver first. According to the World Health Organization, around 33 lakh people worldwide have lost their lives due to alcoholism and the numbers are increasing.
According to experts, the occurrence of liver diseases depends on the amount and pattern of alcohol consumption. For example, if a man consumes 40 to 80 ml of alcohol per day for up to 10 to 12 years, severe liver disease is developing.
On the other hand, if an individual consumes a large amount of alcohol in a short period, his liver may develop the disease even sooner.
Stages of liver damage from excessive alcohol consumption
1- Alcoholic fatty liver: This is the first stage of liver damage due to excessive alcohol consumption for many years. An excessive amount of fat accumulates in the liver and interferes with its function. This health condition can be reversed if the individual stops drinking.
2- Acute alcoholic hepatitis: This is the second stage of liver damage due to excessive alcohol consumption and leads to rapid liver damage. This health condition can even lead to liver failure and its cure depends on the extent of liver damage.
3- Alcoholic cirrhosis: It is the last stage of liver damage due to uncontrolled alcohol consumption. It is the most severe form of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), in which the liver becomes scarred and its functions are severely affected. Liver damage at this stage is permanent and can lead to liver failure and death.
Other causes of liver disease and treatments.
Other causes include hepatitis B and C virus infections, medications, toxins, and other genetic and metabolic disorders. In recent years, a worrying disease has developed: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In NAFLD, fat accumulates in the liver and is accompanied by inflammation, leading to liver damage and cirrhosis.
It should be noted that once cirrhosis is established, the health condition cannot be reversed. Patients may experience jaundice, swelling of the feet, fluid buildup in the lungs and chest, vomiting, black stools, loss of muscle mass, and significant weakness.
Cirrhosis can affect the functionality of the brain, kidneys and lungs, causing serious complications that can lead to death. Additionally, liver cancer can also be detected in some people who suffer from cirrhosis.
Treatment of cirrhosis includes restriction of salt and water intake to reduce swelling of the legs and abdomen, medications to reduce the risk of bleeding, and treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding. However, as liver disease worsens, treatment is limited and less effective.
Another remedy for patients with severe liver damage is a liver transplant in which a damaged liver is replaced with a healthy liver. The donor can be a family member who has a compatible blood group or a cadaveric donor in which the liver of a brain-dead donor is used to replace the diseased liver.
Prevention Tips
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle.
- Periodic examinations for liver diseases
- Optimizing care for conditions that can lead to liver disease
- keep a healthy weight
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise regularly.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Be careful with taking medications.
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Source: ptivs2.edu.vn