In the body, the liver performs more than 500 different functions but is strongly affected by many factors.
Tet meals also need a lot of vegetables and fruits to balance nutrition and protect the liver - Photo: TTO
To keep your liver healthy during Tet, don't miss these 10 things to remember.
Beware of chronic hepatitis B with unclear signs
Having a history of chronic hepatitis B discovered many years ago and not treated with antiviral drugs, Ms. NHT (50 years old, Hanoi) recently felt an unclear feeling of fatigue. The year is ending and Tet is coming, to ensure her health, Ms. T. decided to go to the doctor.
Master Tran Tien Tung - infectious disease specialist, ordered the patient to perform necessary blood tests, along with diagnostic imaging techniques such as abdominal ultrasound and liver tissue elastography.
The results of liver enzymes increased, quantitative hepatitis B test (HBV-DNA) increased: 5,550 copies/ml.
Abdominal ultrasound shows an enlarged liver/fatty liver grade II-III. FibroScan elastography results show liver stiffness equivalent to F3, meaning severe fibrosis: widespread fibrosis and connections between fibrotic liver areas.
According to the 2019 Ministry of Health guidelines, the indication for antiviral treatment is based on a combination of three factors: ALT levels, HBV DNA load, and degree of liver fibrosis. Patient T. was advised to receive antiviral treatment.
MSc. Tung said: The symptoms of chronic hepatitis B in the early stages are often vague and progress silently. If not managed and treated promptly, chronic hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer.
This patient only showed signs of fatigue, so it was easy to be confused and subjective. However, fortunately, the patient went to the doctor in time and was prescribed antiviral drugs to prevent the virus outbreak.
You should still keep your exercise schedule during Tet - Illustration photo
10 things to remember to protect your liver during Tet
In the body, the liver is the largest internal organ. According to research, the liver performs more than 500 different roles, including particularly important roles such as eliminating toxins, producing bile to absorb substances into the body, performing metabolic functions...
However, the liver is affected by many factors from diet and daily activities.
During the Lunar New Year, every family prepares a feast, drinks beer and wine to celebrate... According to doctors, if eating habits are not controlled, they can aggravate metabolic disorders such as diabetes, high cholesterol, gout, cardiovascular disease, and especially affect the liver.
To keep the liver healthy, people should pay attention to the "5 avoids" during holidays and Tet as follows:
1. Drinking beer and alcohol
Alcohol is an indispensable drink at parties, holidays, and Tet, but you may not know that when alcohol enters the body, the liver converts it into acetaldehyde - a very toxic substance.
If the amount of alcohol entering the body is not controlled, it will cause fatigue, itching, hives, more seriously, increased liver enzymes, acute hepatitis, cirrhosis...
2. Foods high in fat, oil, and low in vegetables
Tet dishes are often high in fat, contain a lot of unsaturated fat, but few green vegetables. If you eat too much fat for a long time, the liver will work too hard to metabolize it. This is the cause of fatty liver, or worsen existing liver diseases.
3. Eating too many sweets
Soft drinks, candies, and jams of all kinds are indispensable foods during Tet in every family.
If you consume too many sweets, your liver will have to work harder to metabolize food and filter out toxins. If these toxins are not eliminated in time, they can damage your liver.
4. Lack of sleep and stress during Tet
To have a complete Tet holiday, you may have to spend sleepless nights working to complete KPIs, worrying about preparing and shopping for Tet, a busy year-end schedule, or spending time visiting friends... causing you to stay up late and wake up early.
Lack of sleep and prolonged stress can reduce the liver's ability to heal itself and negatively affect liver function.
5. Little exercise
With the mentality of having fun, during this Tet holiday you may spend all your time having fun, gathering, and celebrating, so you have little time to exercise, move around, or even skip it.
Besides, during Tet, people often eat and rest indiscriminately, which increases the burden on the liver when metabolizing.
To start the new year healthy and complete, Dr. Tung advises people to immediately do 5 useful things during the holidays and Tet, including:
1. Have a reasonable rest regimen : Eat on time and sleep on time so that the body has time to regenerate and recover, especially the liver.
2. Use alcohol reasonably : People with liver, gallbladder, and digestive diseases should say no to alcohol. Healthy people should use alcohol within the allowed limit, choosing wines and light liquors instead of strong alcohol.
In addition, instead of alcohol, you can drink fruit juice, filtered water, herbal tea or smoothies made from fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. Balanced nutrition in meals : Each meal must ensure adequate nutrition including sugar, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. In addition, it is necessary to drink enough 1.5-2 liters of water/day according to body weight.
4. Eat healthy : Limit fried foods and canned foods, increase steamed and boiled foods to minimize fat intake.
5. Maintain exercise : Even during Tet, do not forget the "duty" of exercising 20-30 minutes every day to help your body become more flexible and toned, thereby preventing negative impacts on the liver.
In addition, Dr. Tung noted that if people experience symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, jaundice, yellow eyes... they should immediately go to a reputable medical facility for examination, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of possible complications.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/met-moi-mat-ngu-cung-anh-huong-den-gan-10-dieu-nhat-dinh-phai-nho-de-bao-ve-la-gan-ngay-tet-20250201080612148.htm
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