What are the precautions for liver care

The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body. It plays a role in metabolism and has the functions of detoxification, storing sugar, storing nutrients, and secreting protein. The importance of the liver is self-evident, but if we have improper diet and rest habits, it may damage our liver, causing the liver to become less capable, which in turn affects the overall physical condition of the person. Therefore, the liver needs our care. Here are some precautions for maintaining the liver.

1. No drinking

The view that "alcohol damages the liver" has now been recognized by the medical community. The main component of alcohol is ethanol, which is metabolized into acetaldehyde after entering the human body. Acetaldehyde can directly damage the structure and function of liver cells, especially the metabolism of sugar, fat and protein in the liver. Ethanol can also increase the synthesis of oxygen free radicals that are toxic to the liver, accelerating the progression of liver fibrosis. Studies have confirmed that drinking ranks first among all the causes of fatty liver. Therefore, as long as people drink alcohol, it will have a certain impact on their liver, and the more they drink or the longer they drink, the more serious the damage to their liver will be. Of course, the damage caused by drinking to the liver is also related to factors such as the concentration of the alcohol, the amount and type of food consumed while drinking, and the severity of the liver disease.

2. Don’t overwork yourself

The fatigue mentioned here includes both mental and physical fatigue, such as work stress, mental pressure, extreme excitement or sadness, long-distance travel, excessive labor and exercise, etc. It has been clinically confirmed that excessive mental or physical fatigue can reduce the body's resistance, making people more susceptible to various infections. In addition, when people are overworked, they will inevitably consume a lot of body energy, which is undoubtedly a further blow to liver disease patients who already have energy supply problems.

3. Avoid obesity

It is completely correct for patients with liver disease to repair liver damage by improving nutrition, but if they consume too much nutrition or lack control over the types of food they consume, it will not be conducive to the body's recovery. This is because excessive fat intake can not only easily lead to hyperlipidemia and arteriosclerosis, but also fatty liver; the sugar in the human body mainly comes from various staple foods, and a moderate intake of sugary foods can protect the liver and supply energy, but if too much sugar is consumed, it is easy to convert sugar into neutral fat, which is also a common cause of fatty liver; protein metabolism almost all takes place in the liver, and excessive intake of protein foods will inevitably increase the burden on the liver.

4. Be careful with medication

It is natural to use medicine to treat illness. But medicine is like a double-edged sword for the users. It can cure diseases but also make people sick. Among the harms caused by drugs to the human body, the liver suffers the greatest damage. This is because most drugs need to be metabolized in the liver after entering the human body, which not only increases the burden on the liver, but some can also directly poison the liver. In recent years, the number of clinical cases of liver damage caused by improper use of drugs has gradually increased. The number of people hospitalized due to drug-induced liver disease accounts for about 2% to 5% of hospitalized patients with liver disease and 10% of hospitalized patients with acute hepatitis. This is indeed a considerable number.

5. Beware of infection

When an infection occurs somewhere in the human body, the body temperature tends to rise, which can easily lead to liver hypoxia. The bacteria or viruses that cause infection will release a variety of toxins in the human body, which can directly damage the liver. Clinically, it has been confirmed that upper respiratory tract infection is the leading cause of rupture and bleeding of esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis. This shows that patients with severe hepatitis are often more susceptible to upper respiratory tract infections than normal people due to their decreased disease resistance.