Personal Health

The liver to do some Good: Not only is the consumption of alcohol is an avoidable risk

1. Alcohol

You have probably already noticed it: alcohol is one of the most important risk factors for the liver. Because the liver can break down in a certain period of time, only a limited amount of alcohol. Too much alcohol can destroy the liver cells or change. This initially leads to fatty deposits (alcoholic fatty liver).

The liver can regenerate well, but only when they are added to your next with alcohol. Who drinks in spite of fatty liver more alcohol, is a risk of inflammation of the liver (alcoholic Hepatitis). This inflammation can cause in a severe stage of acute liver failure, but can also become chronic and lead to cirrhosis of the liver. In the industrial countries, roughly every second cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol consumption.

What to do?

Drink alcohol only in moderation. A risky consumption of alcohol is reached faster than I thought:

  • In the case of women is the recommended daily maximum amount of pure alcohol-10 grams. This corresponds to approximately one Standard drink:
    • 1 glass (0.25 l) of beer (4,8% vol.) or
    • 1 glass (0,1 l) wine (11% vol.) or
    • 1 glass (0.1 l) sparkling wine (11% vol.) or
    • 1 glass (0.04 l) brandy (33% vol.)

    Also, you should abstain at least two days per week completely on alcohol.

    If you already have a alcoholic fatty liver, the help only of consistent alcohol waiver. Then you can recover the liver nor complete. More advanced liver damage such as cirrhosis of the liver, even by abstinence, not alleviate it. However, even in this stage, you can slow down the progression of the disease is still well, by drinking no more alcohol.

    2. Drugs

    The body breaks down medicines is predominantly via the liver. Some drugs, however, are harmful to the liver. So, for example, the following active ingredients can trigger an acute inflammation of the liver:

    • Paracetamol
    • Phenytoin
    • Methyldopa
    • Isoniazid
    • Diclofenac

    Certain medicines can also lead to obstruction of bile with subsequent liver failure. Examples of this are:

    • Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid
    • Carbamazepine
    • Erythromycin
    • Rifampicin
    • Rosiglitazone
    • Amiodarone

    The risk for such side effects is less if you fail to comply with the prescribed dosage and duration of treatment. Liver damage is more pronounced in the case of Overdoses.

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    Some people hope to achieve out of herbal remedies have fewer side effects. Herbal medicines can, however, also unwanted effects as all the others. May be harmful to the liver, for example, are:

    • Clubmoss
    • Gamander
    • Rubber Thistle
    • Kava-Kava
    • Cross of thorns
    • Mulberry
    • Ephedra
    • Mint
    • Pennyroyal-Mint
    • Celandine
    • Licorice root
    • Bird’s glue-Thistle
    • Meadow Daisy
    • many herbs and teas that Pyrolizidin alkaloids contain

    What to do?

    Buy no Medicinal or natural remedies of uncertain origin (e.g. via the Internet). Always read the package insert of your medication. Keep to the dosage instructions and do not take for longer periods of time than prescribed.

    Also, remember that any drug interactions with other drugs can have – including natural remedies. Therefore, it is important that at least one doctor is informed about really have all the resources they apply.

    If, despite the correct dosage, possible signs of liver injury, it is often sufficient, the drug is quickly discontinued. But be careful, if it is an important medicine that your doctor prescribed for you (e.g. because of a heart disease or high blood pressure): press and Hold, then always first consult with your doctor, even if your liver values are increased. Your doctor can assess whether it is really necessary, the drug is quickly discontinued. Sometimes there are liver-friendly Alternatives.

    If you have a drug overdose , go immediately to the doctor or to the hospital. Because depending on the drug (e.g. Paracetamol) makes an Overdose, an antidote is necessary.

    Special medication or herbal supplements that can resolve a drug-related liver damage, there is not. In case of emergency, however, means to use, to bring strong, unpleasant symptoms under control. Support you can) your liver is General, through a healthy way of life (v. a. by avoiding alcohol. The liver is badly damaged, a liver transplant is necessary.

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    3. Hepatitis Viruses

    There are several viruses that can cause liver inflammation (Hepatitis). Possible sources of Infection are food, feces, and body fluids (such as blood). Usually the inflammation heals alone. In some cases, however, it shall remain permanently. The possible consequences are failure of liver, cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.

    What to do?

    Prevention is better than treat! Against Hepatitis A and B is a safe and effective vaccination available. Who is vaccinated against Hepatitis B, can also be infected with Hepatitis D virus.

    Against Hepatitis C and E there is no effective vaccine. Still, you can do a lot to avoid contagion:

    • On drugs without. In the case of drug use, never utensils to share with others.
    • Piercings and tattoos only under sterile conditions perform.
    • Toothbrushes and sharp-edged hygiene items such as razor blades, never with others.
    • During Sex, use condoms, and injury-prone practices without.
    • In case of contact with foreign blood, wear protective gloves.
    • Blood stains with a disinfectant remove.
    • Hepatitis E : Pregnant women, transplant and HIV-Infected should eat consulted, in principle, no raw or inadequately cooked meat (especially pork and Wild game). In addition, everyone should be disinfected in high-risk areas, drinking water and uncooked food to avoid.

    For more detailed information on the various forms of Hepatitis and their treatment options, you can find here:

    • Hepatitis A
    • Hepatitis B
    • Hepatitis C
    • Hepatitis D
    • Hepatitis E

    4. Metabolic syndrome: Too much belly fat, elevated blood pressure, blood fat and blood sugar values

    An unhealthy lifestyle can make the liver sick – even without alcohol. Because if you eat too much and too little moves, does the body store excess fat in the liver (a so-called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). An increased risk for this disease have fat especially in older people with excessive abdominal.

    From a simple fatty liver to an inflammatory Steatohepatitis can be. In some cases, a liver fibrosis or even cirrhosis of the liver develops.

    What to do?

    The best way to a fatty degeneration of the liver prevention is: healthy life. This means:

    • You eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
    • You are moving at least three times per week for half an hour – a brisk walk invigorates the circulation.
    • Relieve Stress or avoid, that it arises at all. Relaxation techniques such as autogenic Training help to become calm and to handle stress more easily.
    • You can stop Smoking.
    • You drink alcohol only in moderation.
    • Pay attention to restful and regular sleep.

    In the case of a by Obesity (with) – induced fatty liver disease it is advisable to slowly decline. A BMI over 30, the weight should be decrease at least one to two kilograms per month until BMI is under 30. Zero diets are harmful and to be avoided. It is better to be to lose weight physically active and the diet.

    Here, coffee (several cups of coffee does by the way, every day) a positive effect on fatty liver diseases. And a lot of fruits and vegetables to eat protects against fatty liver inflammation.

    It is also for people with chronic liver disease is important to be in line with the recommendations of the Standing Committee on vaccination (STIKO) vaccinated against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and flu.

    5. Commercial poisons

    Also many chemicals can damage the liver. For Example:

    • Dioxins and vinyl chloride in the chemical industry
    • Arsenic and the seed-dressing Hexachlorobenzene in agriculture
    • halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons
    • Cadmium
    • Dimethyl nitrosamine

    What to do?

    If you professionally with chemicals have to do, you should strictly follow the necessary protective measures to keep. In the private sector is needed, especially in the handling of Turpentine, Petroleum, adhesives, paints and varnishes caution. Pay attention to the hazard symbols and-protect – by, for example, when handling chemicals

    • Wear protective gloves and
    • if possible, Outdoor work.

    Has the liver by a commercial poison damage, the poison from now on necessarily to avoid. This may mean, under certain circumstances, to change the profession in a different field or to retrain.

    You can also do your damaged liver with a healthy way of life is something Good.

    Funds that could resolve the liver damage, there is not, however. Medications come only in an emergency, to treat any complications of the liver damage. In the case of very severe, life-threatening liver damage, a liver transplant can help.

    6. Knoll leaves mushrooms

    Knoll leaves mushrooms contain potent liver toxins and are among the most toxic mushrooms at all. Even in the smallest of quantities (for example, if you try the mushroom, collect a piece of) the fungus is highly toxic and can result without timely treatment, death.

    What to do?

    Eating self-collected mushrooms only if you know really well with edible fungi or a fungus expert, confirms that the mushrooms are edible. Otherwise, the rule is: make sure it’s better and you can buy edible mushrooms in the food trade.

    If you notice after a mushroom meal possible signs of a poisoning, select immediately to the emergency call (112). A Amanita phalloides poisoning requires rapid treatment in the hospital. If this is not effective enough, a liver transplant is necessary.

    A General Tip:

    If you experience possible signs of a disease of the liver or bile, let your liver values to examine. Gamma-GT, GOT and GPT are elevated, it is advisable to search for potential diseases or stress the liver.

    Sources

    Online information of the German liver help e. V.: www.leberhilfe.org (retrieval date: 28.10.2019)

    Online information of the Pschyrembel: www.pschyrembel.de (retrieval date: 28.10.2019)

    Patient Information Liver Disease. Online-information of a Medical centre for quality in medicine (ÄZQ) on behalf of the kassenärztliche bundesvereinigung (KBV) and Bundesärztekammer (BÄK): www.patienten-information.de (June 2019)

    Roeb, E.: Guide Fatty Liver Diseases. Online information of the German society for combatting diseases of the stomach, intestines and liver, as well as of disorders of metabolism and nutrition (Gastro-Liga) e. V.: www.gastro-liga.de (January 2017)

    How does the liver? Online information of the Institute for quality and efficiency in healthcare (IQWiG): www.gesundheitsinformation.de (status: 22.8.2016)

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    *The article “The liver do something Good: Not only is the consumption of alcohol is released is an avoidable risk” of Onmeda. Contact with the executives here.