The normalfat content of a liver is 3%~5%, but when it slowly swells, it not only makes you Suffering from “fatty liver”.
This disease that is frequently attacked in the medical report, the attack is hidden and “ “It has a wide range, and the old, middle-aged and young people may become its target group.
The whole process of the liver gaining weight is like boiling a frog in warm water, which affects the health of the whole body step by step.
July 28 is World Hepatitis Day, “Life Times” (Search “LT0385” in WeChat to follow) invite experts to interpret the formation process of fatty liver and teach you the science of caring for the liver Way.
Interviewed experts< /strong>
Pan Hongying, Director, Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial People’s HospitalZhang Hongfei, Professor, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Center, Chang Gung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing Hou Jiancun, Deputy Chief Physician of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital
How does fat occupy the liver?
Under normal circumstances, the lipid content of the liver is 3% to 5%. If you eat too much and don’t exercise enough, the fat will only get in and out, and the liver will grow fatter and fatter, resulting in fatty liver.
lipid content 5%~10%: p>
After the carbohydrates in the three meals a day are converted into glucose, a part is used for energy, and the excess is transported to the liver and stored in the form of liver glycogen.
Although the liver is large, its storage capacity is limited. If the inventory of liver glycogen is excessive, it can only be processed into fat and accumulated, waiting to be used in the future.
Initially, fatty liver is just simply “gaining fat”, that is, simple fatty liver. Fat accounts for about 5% to 10% of the weight of the liver and does not cause inflammation. The patient may not have any symptoms and needs to pass ultrasound. Check confirmed.
10%~25% fat content: fat covers the liver
If fat accumulates further and reaches 10%~25% fat content, the liver will Gradually “submerged” by fat, as if wearing a thick “padded coat”, making it difficult for liver cells to obtain nutrients, degeneration and fibrosis around liver cells.
Meanwhile, the liver is “fighting” against fat, causing inflammation, pain, and steatohepatitis. At this time, the patient may have liver discomfort, mild tenderness or fullness, and typical pathological changes can be seen in liver biopsy.
lipid content>25%: thickened fibrous tissue
Under the continuous accumulation of fat and repeated inflammation, the liver fat content gradually reached 25% above.
Hepatocyte necrosis occurs, resulting in collapse of hepatic lobules, formation of fibrous septa, proliferation, thickening and hardening of fibrous tissue in the liver, and gradually progresses to cirrhosis.
At this time, even if the liver has a strong regeneration ability, it is difficult to reverse, and the patient faces persistent and severe pain in the liver area, as well as discomfort such as upper abdominal distension, or symptoms such as jaundice, spider angioma and liver palm. .
Fatty liver, not just liver damage
Fatty liver can be divided into two categories: alcoholic fatty liver and non-alcoholic fatty liver. daily alcohol intake.
Fatty liver is not only an independent disease, but also a pathological manifestation of systemic disease in the liver.
Increase the risk of liver cancer
Fatty liver is caused by the disorder of liver lipid metabolism, and is also an important factor aggravating liver damage.
Once liver cirrhosis develops to the decompensated stage, liver ascites, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, liver failure, and hepatorenal syndrome are very likely to occur. In addition, the risk of liver cirrhosis secondary to liver cancer is relatively high.
vascular hardening and arteriosclerosis
The survey data of Chinese Medical Doctor Association showed that 45% of fatty liver patients were accompanied by abdominal obesity, increased blood pressure and blood sugar. Abnormal, dyslipidemia and other metabolic syndrome, but the awareness rate of patients is seriously low.
◎ Fatty liver will cause incomplete fat metabolism, and excessive triglycerides remain in the blood, which will lead to hyperlipidemia.
◎Excessive fat deposits on the blood vessel wall, which can easily lead to hardening of the blood vessel wall, resulting in poor blood vessel elasticity and high blood pressure.
At the same time, due to oil blockage, the vascular lumen will become narrower and narrower, and it is easy to lead to insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle and insufficient oxygen supply to the brain, thereby causing heart disease, stroke, etc., with very serious consequences.
>
Diabetes are brothers and sisters
Research shows that almost all patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver have insulin resistance in surrounding tissues and liver, and the severity of insulin resistance is related to It is related to the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The lipid metabolism disorder in patients with fatty liver can cause and aggravate the disorder of glucose metabolism. About 50% of diabetic patients have fatty liver disease.
Affects immune and detoxification functions
Hepatocyte steatosis or necrosis in patients with fatty liver reduces the immune function of the liver, and patients with fatty liver are often accompanied by hepatosplenomegaly.
p>
The spleen is an important immune organ of the human body. Spleen enlargement can cause hypersplenism and inhibit cellular immune function. Patients with fatty liver usually have lower resistance and higher risk of infection.
Hepatocyte fat After degeneration, the detoxification function is reduced, and it is easy to cause the retention of toxins in the body, causing harm to the body.
Increase the risk of obesity
There are problems with liver metabolism, and the fat, Carbohydrates and proteins cannot be effectively utilized, and are more likely to accumulate as fat. However, it should be noted that no matter whether you are fat or thin, you may suffer from fatty liver.
Fatty liver is actually “reversible strong>”
In clinical practice, fatty liver may be reversed at the initial stage, but it is difficult to reverse once it progresses to the stage of liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis.
By It can be seen that simple fatty liver has the mildest degree and is not scary, but it is the most difficult stage to detect.
In addition to uncontrolled diet and lack of exercise, etc. If the habit is used, the patient may progress to steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis, and miss the best time for treatment.
As long as fatty liver occurs, no matter the severity, the patient should stop drinking to reduce the burden on the liver; Patients without serum immunity to hepatitis A and B viruses should be vaccinated accordingly; patients with hyperlipidemia can receive lipid-lowering therapy.
For overweight and obese patients with fatty liver, weight loss is the most important important treatments In clinical practice, lifestyle interventions such as dietary adjustment and regular exercise are recommended. Some patients who are difficult to reach the target weight may consider bariatric surgery.
In drug treatment, it should be used under the guidance of a specialist.
Five things to do well with your liver
The best way to stay away from fatty liver is to change your unhealthy lifestyle.
Don’t take medicine indiscriminately
Many people either don’t pay attention to fatty liver, Let it be, or rely on “treatment” by eating health supplements.
In fact, all the drugs people eat need to be metabolized by the liver. Blindly eating health care products or medicines will increase the burden on the liver, especially if the ingredients are unknown and unclear.
Choose a low-calorie diet and eat more fruits and vegetables
Reduce total dietary calorie intake and increase the intake of whole grains, dietary fiber, unsaturated fatty acids, fresh fruits and vegetables intake.
It should be noted that reducing calorie intake does not mean that daily food intake should be particularly small. Healthy weight loss requires a long-term process, such as continuous improvement of diet structure for one or two years or more. Excessive weight loss will also increase the burden on the liver and kidneys.
Adhere to moderate-intensity exercise
Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease should especially avoid prolonged sitting and less movement.
Exercise therapy can effectively reduce body fat content and improve insulin resistance. It is a safe, economical and effective method for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
It is recommended to maintain exercise for more than 30 minutes per day, 3 times per week ~5 times. The heart rate during exercise should be maintained at “170-age”, and the highest heart rate should not exceed “200-age”.
When exercising in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise should be combined with the principle of long-term adherence.
Check liver function regularly
Men over 40 years old, people who have been infected with viral hepatitis, people who take medicine for a long time, and people who have a family history of liver cancer, must Check liver function every year.
It is best not to wait until symptoms such as jaundice, liver ascites, and gastrointestinal bleeding are present.
Receive scientific and professional treatment
In addition to controlling diet and exercising regularly, patients with steatohepatitis need to seek medical attention when necessary, and use anti-inflammatory drugs under the guidance of professional doctors Hepatoprotective and antioxidant drug therapy.
It needs to be reminded that drug treatment is only a part of the comprehensive treatment of steatohepatitis, such as anti-inflammatory liver-protecting drugs, most of which cannot solve the fundamental problem of fatty liver.
Experts remind that if you want to cure steatohepatitis, you should not rely too much on drugs. The most effective treatment method is to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. ▲
Editor of this issue: Xu Menglian
and so on, lower right corner< span>ClickI’m watchingGo ahead