As we all know, almost all drugs are metabolized and detoxified by the liver, and some drugs and drug metabolites can cause unexpected damage to the liver, and even cause drug-induced liver damage. I believe that everyone is no stranger to statins. They are often used to treat hyperlipidemia and can reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Will statins damage the liver?

Do statins harm the liver?

Patients with diabetes, stroke and coronary heart disease should take statins regardless of whether their blood lipids are normal or not. Many patients stop the drug immediately after the blood lipids drop to normal levels, which in turn causes the blood lipid levels to rise again, thus affecting the therapeutic effect. If you do not have chronic diseases such as stroke or coronary heart disease, you can follow the doctor’s advice to slowly reduce the dose of the drug until it is reduced to the lowest effective dose.

Read the instructions of statins carefully and mark the content of adverse reactions to liver damage, so as to make patients excessively worried and anxious. In fact, the safety of statins is much higher than that of aspirin, and the risk of liver damage is extremely low, so statins are not hepatotoxic drugs. After taking the drug, the transaminase is slightly elevated, and the dose can be reduced appropriately.

What actions harm the liver?

1. Smoking and drinking

The harmful substances such as nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide contained in cigarettes can directly damage the liver, which increases the risk of liver disease or liver cancer. The intermediate metabolite of alcohol is acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a recognized carcinogen. Acetaldehyde can poison liver cells, which will affect the decomposition and metabolism of fatty acids by liver cells, resulting in an increase in intrahepatic fat and induction of fatty liver. Therefore, the more alcohol you drink, the more serious the disease will be, and it will even develop into liver fibrosis or liver cancer.

2. Lack of sleep

Staying up late for a long time can increase the burden on the liver and reduce its resistance and immunity, exacerbating damage to the liver. In particular, patients with chronic hepatitis B or C still stay up late, which will further aggravate the disease. After the hepatitis B virus invades the body, it will indirectly affect the liver cells, but it will absorb nutrients in the liver cells and stick and multiply in a large amount.

3. Negative emotions

Nowadays, the pace of life is accelerating, and people are prone to negative emotions including pessimism, anxiety, fear and depression, and anger, which damage the liver and cause the liver to fail to function. Grumpy temper can easily lead to the reversal of liver qi and hyperactivity of liver yang, and excessive depression can lead to stagnation of liver qi.

4. Prefer greasy food

Fat is synthesized and decomposed in the liver, After digestion and absorption, part of the fat enters the liver, which is converted into body fat and stored. When excessive starvation occurs, the stored body fat is transported to the liver and decomposed. Eating too much high-greasy food can make fat metabolism disorder, make fat accumulate in the liver, and cause fatty liver.

Message from the doctor

After the above understanding, statin The drug will not harm the liver, as long as you take the drug strictly according to the doctor’s instructions, but you should go to the hospital for liver function tests regularly during the medication. Maintain a normal body weight and have at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as cycling, jogging, or skipping rope. Maintain a positive and optimistic attitude, be calm, optimistic and cheerful, which can promote the normal growth and regulation of liver qi.

Family doctor online feature, unauthorized reprint