Sports against the liver, or when physical exercise can be harmful. Exercises for the liver: therapeutic and breathing exercises Is it possible to do water aerobics with cirrhosis of the liver

There are diseases that can significantly affect a person, requiring lifestyle changes.

Depending on the strength of the immune system, the genotype of the virus, the stage of its development and the viral load, different consequences are possible: from complete recovery without the use of drugs for 6 months to transition to a chronic disease, cirrhosis and fibrosis of the liver.

However, a person can live with hepatitis C for decades. In order to reduce the destructive effect of the disease, you need to follow certain rules both in food and lifestyle.

Therefore, the question remains whether physical activity is indicated for the body and, if so, which ones, as well as what rules should be followed so as not to harm health. We will consider this question further in our article.

The importance of physical activity

Doctors believe that sport is a necessary element in the lives of patients with hepatitis C. And there are a number of reasons for this, which we will consider further.

Fight obesity

It is known that the hepatitis C virus negatively affects lipid metabolism in the body. Because of this, there may be problems with the breakdown and transportation of fats. In this case, cholelithiasis may become an associated illness.

In conditions when the body does not have time to break down fats, it begins to send them to body tissues. Obesity simply sets in, creating additional problems for the patient. To avoid this, you need to regularly create a consumption of glycogen in the muscles, which will force you to use fat for energy production.

Therefore, playing sports like nothing else is suitable for patients who are infected with hepatitis C and will help avoid excess fat deposits in the body.

Strengthening defenses

Very often, a sick person prefers to give up any physical activity. However, as a result of this, physical inactivity may develop, disrupting the functioning of the cardiovascular system, reducing performance and blood supply to tissues.

This can affect the body's ability to resist not only the hepatitis C virus, but also others. To prevent this from happening, it is enough to give the body a light load in the form of standard physical education. Exercises that allow you to saturate your muscles with oxygen will be very useful.

Acceleration of blood, improvement of bile metabolism

Sport helps improve blood circulation. With hepatitis, the flow of oxygenated blood to the abdominal cavity and liver is beneficial. Physical education normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and the function of the biliary tract.

Psychological recovery

Often, after being diagnosed with even a mild illness, people become depressed and experience breakdowns and stress. In addition, taking medications can depress the nervous system. Psychological disorders negatively affect a person’s physical condition.

Playing sports helps a person raise self-esteem, believe in the best and give strength to fight illnesses. The main thing is not to overdo it in terms of physical activity.

Social factor

Hepatitis is a disease that people around us are afraid of. In most cases, this is due to misunderstanding and ignorance of the transmission routes of the virus. In this case, the infected person may begin to feel useless and disadvantaged.

In fact, the virus cannot be transmitted through handshakes, kisses and hugs. Therefore, playing sports together, for example, football or basketball, will help the patient not to feel excluded from society and improve morale.

As you can see, playing sports is beneficial in many ways for patients with hepatitis C. Next, let’s move on to tips on how to exercise correctly and not overload the infected body in order to avoid negative consequences.

How to properly load the body

The very first thing that many athletes miss is to prepare the body for stress. This is done in the form of a light warm-up: you need to warm up the muscles, work on the rotation of the joints, and increase blood flow to them.

Let's highlight the following basic training tips for patients with hepatitis C:

• The last meal before training should be an hour and a half before the first loads. A portion no more than 150 grams of food, the main emphasis should be on slow carbohydrates;
• At first (from 2 to 4 weeks), it is better to limit physical activity to light general strengthening exercises. Their list includes walks in the fresh air at a fast pace or at a slow pace on a bicycle, swimming in the pool, and using an exercise bike. The main point is to give the body a small load, but for a long time. If pain occurs in the abdomen or right hypochondrium, it is recommended to slow down and wait until the pain subsides;
• if you are doing exercises that involve most of the muscles of the body, then between approaches you need to do breathing exercises to help the body recover faster and not overexert itself;
• To quench your thirst, you can use pure water without additives and rosehip decoction. In this case, you need to drink in small doses, in some cases just rinsing your mouth;
• after physical activity, hunger will appear - the body’s natural reaction to the rapid loss of resources in the form of energy. You need to at least wait 30 minutes before eating after a workout. A portion of food should be similar to a light snack, no need to overeat. Patients with hepatitis C are not recommended to “fill” their stomach to full, as this threatens obesity, which they already have to fight due to impaired lipid metabolism;
• after about a month, the body will more or less get used to the loads, you will notice that the exercises are easy for you. This means you can gradually increase the tension, add light dumbbells and new types of exercises. But this must be done extremely carefully and carefully to avoid overexertion;
• if you have the money and time to visit gyms, then this will be very useful. You should choose Pilates, step, light aerobics. In the gym, preference should be given to working with light weights under the supervision of a trainer.

For variety, you can add football, ice skating, jogging, water aerobics and other sports, but you need to do them without fanaticism.

Precautionary measures

It must be borne in mind that any sport or physical activity can be traumatic. This is extremely undesirable for people carrying the hepatitis virus. Remember that it is important to preserve the health of the patient and the people around him. To do this, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. In the summer, train outside in the morning or evening, when the air is cooler. Excessive fat and exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause great harm to health, including loss of consciousness with various consequences, as well as activation of inflammatory processes in the liver and other parts of the body.
2. Intense exercise is especially dangerous during the transition of hepatitis from acute to chronic form. During this period, it is forbidden to strain the abdominal muscles, straighten and bend the body, and breathe deeply from the diaphragm. After exercise It is recommended to spend some time lying down with your legs bent to relax the abdominal organs.
3. For hepatitis C, it is recommended not only to abstain from drinking alcohol, fatty foods and other harmful foods, but also to take sports nutrition and pharmacology. At best, this causes the liver to work harder, and at worst, it destroys its cells, increasing the likelihood of developing fibrosis or cirrhosis .
4. The patient should take care of those around him and cover any cuts, scrapes or other open injuries with a band-aid. This is due to the fact that the main route of transmission of the hepatitis C virus is through direct contact with infected blood. Only a personal towel and other personal hygiene items should be used in the hall.
5. Before choosing a training program, it is recommended to consult a doctor who can determine whether the loads will be excessive and harmful to the body, including liver function.
6. These rules apply to everyone, including the second genotype of the virus.

Conclusion

To summarize the article, we can highlight the main points:

• sports activities are recommended for patients with hepatitis C for a number of reasons, including strengthening the immune system and general health, improving blood circulation and oxygen saturation;
Hepatologist, Gastroenterologist, Proctologist

Alexey has been practicing medicine since 1996. Provides therapy for all diseases of the liver, gall bladder and gastrointestinal tract as a whole. Among them: hepatitis, pancreatitis, duodenal ulcer, colitis.

Our expert - gastroenterologist at the Military Medical Academy of St. Petersburg, candidate of medical sciences Nikolay Shcherbina.

Side pain

Many people are probably familiar with this condition: after a quick run or physical activity, the right side hurts. Due to intense physical activity, the outflow of blood from the liver is disrupted, it swells, pinching pain receptors - hence the pain.

This condition is aggravated if a person has eaten heavily before exercising: by overloading the digestive tract, you also overload the liver, causing too much blood flow.

From time to time

Statistics say that half of the inhabitants of our country engage in one kind of sport or another, but with what regularity is a big question. More often, alas, this happens from time to time - when you want to lose weight, for example, for some event.

With such rare but intense loads, fatty acids accumulate and liver cells are damaged; a significant amount of breakdown products can accumulate in the human body, the liver is responsible for removing them. As a result, you are more likely to develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Lose weight urgently

Another common situation is when we start exercising and at the same time follow a strict low-calorie diet so that the effect is faster and more obvious. The liver tolerates this combination very poorly. As a result of the diet, the body does not receive enough beneficial fatty acids and essential vitamins - antioxidants, which are necessary for the restoration of liver, brain and heart cells.

On squirrels alone

If women often become adherents of low-calorie diets, then men, especially young men, are at the other extreme. Wanting to build muscle mass, they begin to consume too many foods containing animal protein.

All this is supported by protein supplements and shakes and topped off with ultra-intense exercise. The result is the accumulation of various difficult-to-remove substances in the body.

Signal for help

The liver is a unique organ. It will work even if only 20% of healthy cells remain in it, and is capable of self-healing.

There are practically no nerve endings in it, and therefore it does not hurt, and the initial stages of the disease can occur with virtually no symptoms.

To protect and restore the liver, there are hepatoprotectors. They improve the protective and transport function of the liver and help its cells resist oxidative stress. Namely, it is the most important mechanism in the development of alcoholic and other liver diseases.

As a result, liver cells are able to neutralize toxins, get rid of fat, and cope with inflammation faster.

Weights to help the heart

Weight training is good for the heart, scientists from the USA have found. Iron training has long been considered useless for the cardiovascular system, unlike aerobics. But it turned out that those who “pump up muscles” at least three times a week have the same correct ratio of “good” and “bad” cholesterol as runners.

Walking Against Cancer

Physical exercise reduces the risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer. Based on the results of a large study, the American Cancer Society found that moderate exercise is necessary for women over 50 for more than just weight loss. It turns out that those whose activity was less than 7 hours of walking or other aerobic activity per week had an increased risk of this disease.

7 hours of walking per week reduced the risk to 14% below average. In the most active women who walked 10 hours a week or more, the risk of a dangerous disease was reduced by 25%.

Outdoors

Fresh water exercise significantly reduces blood pressure in hypertensive patients, doctors from China have found. It turned out that people who did at least 3 hours a week of walking, running or recreational gymnastics on the street had an 11% lower risk of developing hypertension. And those who exercised outdoors 4 or more hours a week had a 19% lower risk.

The liver is a vital gland in the human body, the largest available, and performs several physiological functions. Any problems with it are fraught with harm to the health of the body. Cirrhosis– their worst options, as it is associated with irreversible organ destruction and leads to premature death.

Liver cirrhosis is a chronic disease in which parenchymal tissue is replaced by connective tissue. The latter can be fibrous or reticular. The disease is accompanied by a decrease or increase in the size of the gland, its acquisition of a dense structure, tuberosity, and roughness.

The disease ends in death. It can last 2…4 g and be accompanied by severe pain. The latter begin to torment the patient when the terminal phase of the disease begins.

Epidemiology

Existing statistics classify the disease as one of the most common causes of death. Moreover, this applies to the most economically developed countries - in them there are 14...30 deaths from this disease per 100 thousand population.

Most people die in the age range of 35...60 years. In absolute numbers, this is 40 million people annually. Of these, 1% are residents of the CIS countries.

The disease is male. Representatives of the stronger half suffer from it three times more often than women. People of all ages are susceptible to the problem, but more often the disease begins to develop intensively from the age of 40.

Etiology

There are three main reasons that provoke the development of pathology:

Less common causes include previously suffered or ongoing diseases that affect the biliary tract; moreover, located inside and outside the liver. In addition, cirrhosis can begin:

• with congestive heart failure;
• after intoxication, accumulation of organisms as a result of taking medications, contact with chemicals;
• in the presence of disorders and other metabolic problems that have been inherited by the patient (for example, hemochromatosis, hepatolenticular degeneration).

Some types of disease, for example, phleboportal cirrhosis, owe their appearance to occlusive processes occurring in the portal vein (venous trunk).

Today, experts cannot determine the cause of human disease with biliary cirrhosis.

Pathogenesis

The immunoinflammatory process, which leads to the development of cirrhosis, does not develop immediately. It is preceded by a change in the genome of liver parenchyma cells and the creation of their pathologically altered clones. This happens for months, sometimes years, and includes several stages (stages) of the development of the disease:

• the first (compensatory stage) is associated with the action of various factors on cells that can trigger the process of changing their genome; these are viruses, immune mechanisms, many hepatotoxic substances, compounds, etc.;
• at the second stage (subcompensatory stage), fat-storing cells are activated; because of this, the proliferation of connective tissue begins, which fills the perisinusoidal space within the hepatic lobules; the same process provokes fibrosis of the gland;
• the third stage (decompensation stage) – disruption of the blood supply to epithelial cells; this occurs due to the narrowing of the vascular bed and the development of excess capillaries in the sinusoids; in this case, ischemic necrosis of hepatocytes develops;
• at the fourth stage (terminal stage), immune processes are launched for the complete or partial destruction of nuclear liver cells.

Kinds

Depending on the cause, there are several types of disease:

• alcoholic: it is preceded by acute alcoholic hepatitis; subsequently, a process of fatty liver degeneration is observed, which is accompanied by a mesenchymal reaction and fibrosis; as a result of the direct toxic effect of alcohol, the death of hepatocytes occurs, which is the main factor in the occurrence of cirrhosis;
• viral: when the liver is infected, the body’s immune reaction begins to affect a complex protein (lipoprotein), modify it, which leads to cirrhosis;
• stagnant: the cause of the disease is a lack of oxygen in the liver cells, in obstructed venous outflow of blood from the gland;
• primary biliary: the type is associated with genetics and disorders of the body’s immunoregulation.

Symptoms

Signs that indicate the likelihood of pathology are associated with:

• with a feeling of general fatigue;
• with reduced ability to work;
• with unpleasant sensations that are localized in the abdominal area;
• with dyspeptic disorders, expressed in difficult, painful digestion, disturbances in the functioning of the stomach; all this is felt by the patient as pain, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, early satiety, heaviness in the midline of the abdomen or close to it;
• with elevated body temperature;
• with joint pain;
• with flatulence;
• with weight loss;
• with increased fatigue against the background of intolerance to light of increased brightness, sounds of high volume, sharp, intense odors, unstable mood, impatience, weakened self-control, restlessness, loss of the ability to strain for a long time (mentally, physically), sleep disturbances.

Symptoms include its increase in size, deformation and compaction of its surface, and the appearance of pointed edges in it. At the onset of the disease, the increase in the proportions of the list is defined as uniform. Then it occurs more quickly in the left lobe. In this case, an increase in pressure in the venous column is accompanied by:

• a similar but moderate process in the spleen;
• congestion of the veins located on the anterior abdominal wall; This symptom is called “jellyfish head”.

The disease clinic reveals:

• failure at the level of the cells that make up the liver;
• portal hypertension - the presence of increased pressure in the venous column;
• flatulence, expressed in bloating;
• problems with digesting fatty foods and dishes; intolerance to alcoholic beverages;
• manifestation of a feeling of heaviness, diarrhea, cases of vomiting, nausea, the appearance of pain in the hypochondrium on the right.

In 70% of patients, there is a pathological increase in the size of the gland, a sharpened edge, and its compaction. In 30%, palpation reveals the presence of superficial nodes on the gland. In half of the patients, everything is accompanied by a pathological increase in the size of the spleen.

There are external signs that accompany cirrhosis in some people. Sometimes they appear:

• spider veins on the skin;
• “liver” – very reddened palms and/or soles of the feet;
• depletion of hair under the arms, on the pubis;
• whitening of nails;
• in men – breast enlargement;
• the shape of fingers that become like drumsticks - with thickenings at the ends.

At the end of the disease, the liver in a quarter of patients shrinks. In addition, the patient may:

• develop jaundice, abdominal dropsy (ascites);
• swelling of the legs appears;
• varicose veins appear in the intestines, stomach, esophagus.

In the latter case, bleeding from them is possible, which leads to the death of the patient. There may be less intense hemorrhoidal bleeding.

Diagnostics

At the initial visit, a doctor can suspect liver cirrhosis in a patient based on his complaints and general examination. The most common complaints are general malaise, a feeling of constant weakness, and lack of appetite. Usually there is a decrease in the patient’s body weight, he develops joint pain, and itchy skin. There is a decrease in libido, hair loss on the pubis and armpits. In women, the menstrual cycle may be disrupted.

Often complaints of pain in the right hypochondrium (a classic symptom of liver cirrhosis), disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea. The patient cannot normally drink alcohol or fatty foods.

Examination of the patient, if there is a suspicion of cirrhosis, reveals an enlargement of the gland (in half of the patients) and yellowing of the skin. The latter may have spider veins. Examine the palms and soles of the feet - they may also be red. Palpation of the liver causes pain, shows that it has a lumpy surface, and the gland itself is compacted.

Suspecting a disease, the doctor prescribes an additional examination for the patient. In this case they use:

• taking tissue samples by performing a puncture biopsy; by examining them, they determine the type of disease, sometimes the signs by which conclusions are drawn about the cause of cirrhosis;
• radiography, which allows you to record the growth in size of the spleen and liver;
• ultrasound examination: it shows the real outlines of the gland, its size; based on the results of the study, one can judge the structure of the tissues and the effective cross-section of the venous column; make sure that the abdominal cavity is not filled with fluid; at the same time, malignant tissue degeneration is excluded;
• radionuclide research, in which a radioactive element is introduced into the body and observed how it is fixed by the organs. The information content of the method is less than with ultrasound, but it evaluates the function of the gland - cirrhosis leads to the fact that the liver’s ability to retain radioactive substances decreases; based on the resulting picture of the distribution of the substance, it is judged whether there are areas of the gland that have generally lost this ability;
• at the same time monitor the passage of radioactive substances through the spleen; with cirrhosis, an increase in its ability to capture such substances is recorded;
• if the study reveals that substances are deposited in the spine, pelvis (their bones), then they speak of a critical state of liver function;
• – computed tomography, MNR: studies help to see foci of oncology in the liver tissue; Subsequently, samples are taken from them and histology is performed;
• fibrogastroduodenoscopy: the method is considered the most informative on internal bleeding in cirrhosis; it is easy for them to see where the blood is flowing from and confirm cirrhosis or refute it, indicating that it is oozing from ulcers present in the stomach and duodenum;
• laboratory research:
• a general blood test reveals anemia;
• an increased number of leukocytes indicates the presence of infection;
• a low platelet count indicates an enlarged spleen;
• biochemistry reveals increased levels of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin and decreased globulins.

Complications

Among the complications, several groups are distinguished. They are associated with different conditions:

• with hypertension or increased pressure in the portal vein: complications are associated with bleeding that occurs from veins located in the esophagus and stomach; possible vein rupture; this condition leads to the death of patients in 40%;
• with liver failure: periodic brain disorders occur, which in the worst case lead to coma;
• with portal vein thrombosis: this is an aggravating factor, it worsens the prognosis of the disease.

In addition, the degeneration of liver cells often leads to the development of malignant neoplasms. In cirrhosis, complications associated with infection are also observed - patients are often diagnosed, for example, with pneumonia.

Traditional treatment

When treating, modern medicine uses several types of measures:

Drug treatment

This type provides protection of liver cells from degeneration and replacement. Special medications are used that simultaneously support the organ and help it function normally. Such drugs are called hepatoprotectors. They are presented today:

• herbal preparations: almost all such medicines are based on milk thistle, which contains silymarin, which helps the liver; a similar substance (cynarin) is found in artichokes; They also use extracts of yarrow, tansy, birch, and cassia. Medicines of this group are presented on the market by Cynarix, Karsil, Dipana, Legalon, Bonjigar, Silymarin, Sibektan, Gepabene, Allohol, Galstena;
• essential phospholipids: this is a drug that is essential complex fats; the latter are part of cell membranes and participate in the metabolism of the body; they are able to maintain a balance between fats, carbohydrates, cholesterol; Once the drugs enter the body, they help destroy collagen, which promotes cell degeneration. Which leads to cirrhosis. The medications in the group are represented by Phosphogliv, Essentiale, Phosphonciale, Essentiale forte N, Essliver forte, Eslidin;
• lipotropic substances: such drugs contain amino acids that reduce the content of bad cholesterol in the blood; they block fatty infiltration of the liver; many of them are vitamin-like. Today, from this group of medications, Hepa-merz, Betargin, Heptral, Ornilatex, Glutargin-alcoline are most often prescribed;
• vitamins: they support vital processes, which is important for cirrhosis; most often prescribed are retinol (A), ascorbic acid (C), tocopherol (E), cocarboxylase, thioctic acid; additionally - all vitamins included in group B, rutin (P), calciferol (D).

In addition, with drug treatment:

• restore bile acid deficiency by prescribing ursodeoxycholic acid, which is an analogue of natural bile; drugs containing it (Ursonan, Exchol, Ursor, Ursodex) act on the liver as hepatoprotectors, preventing bad cholesterol from being absorbed by the gland, helping to break down fats, and reduce blood sugar;
• strengthen the immune system, stimulate it by prescribing immunostimulating medications to patients; it is fashionable to use, for example, Vilosen, Zadaxin, Thymogen;
• remove excess fluid: this is necessary, since the abdominal cavity is filled with an extremely large amount of fluid; they do this by prescribing diuretics - diuretics; There are several groups of the latter - the doctor decides which one to take;
• carry out symptomatic therapy: it is prescribed to alleviate the patient’s condition; Cerucal, Motilium, Pipolfen help prevent nausea and vomiting; Diphenhydramine, Claritin, Diazolin, Suprastin relieves severe itching; To help with insomnia and anxiety, they drink Valerian and Tenoten.

Diet

Without following a diet, one cannot even talk about a favorable outcome of liver cirrhosis. Its task in case of such an illness is:

• relieve the gland, especially when eating heavy foods;
• help normalize metabolism;
• help restore cells;
• prevent complications of the disease.

For liver cirrhosis, diet No. 5 is usually prescribed. In it:

• there are no products that irritate the gastrointestinal tract or liver;
• increased amount of carbohydrates and proteins;
• fat content reduced by a third;
• limited to 1…2 tsp. salt intake per day;
• the maximum caloric content of daily food consumption was set at 2.5...3 thousand kcal;
• liquid intake per day is limited to 1.5 liters;
• a requirement has been established that all food must be ground and warm.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Physiotherapeutic procedures include plasmapheresis, inductothermy, ultrasound, iontophoresis, and diathermy. They support liver health by improving metabolism.

Physical exercise

Surgery

If all the previous steps have failed and liver cirrhosis has entered the last stage, then a liver transplant is performed. The operation is expensive and complicated. In addition, it is difficult to find a suitable donor.

Folk remedies in the treatment of liver cirrhosis

Self-medication in this case is also impossible. Be sure to see a doctor!

Milk thistle

Take a teaspoon of crushed seeds, as many leaves of the plant, pour boiling water (250 ml). After 20 minutes of infusion, cool and filter.

Drink the infusion and drink it completely. They do this three times a day - in the morning before breakfast, in the afternoon before lunch, in the evening before bed.

Elecampane

1.5 tbsp. l. elecampane is crushed and placed in a saucepan; pour half a liter of water. Place on the stove for 30 minutes. boil on low heat. Turn off the heat and let it sit for 20 minutes. let it brew, strain.

Drink 200 ml three times a day, before meals. The duration of the course is 10 days.

Vegetable juices according to Norman Walker

Treatment is carried out with juices, which you need to drink a liter per day. Drink them three times a day, one glass at a time. At the same time, they drink a mixture of juices and alternate them by day. For example, you can drink juices in the following ratio:

• first day: beets + cucumber + carrots – 3:3:10;
• second day: spinach + carrots – 6:10;
• third day: black radish + carrots – 1:5.

Herbal collection

A collection is made from rose hips, wheatgrass rhizomes, and stinging nettle foliage (ratio 20+20+10 g). Grind and mix. 1 tbsp. l. The mixture is placed in a saucepan and poured with boiling water (250 ml). Place the container on the fire after 15 minutes. remove and another 15 minutes. insist. After cooling, the broth is filtered.

Drink twice a day, before meals (half an hour) - usually morning and evening.

Herbal collection

The collection consists of: St. John's wort herb + yarrow herb + horsetail + chicory bark. The volumes are equal. Grind the mixture and mix. Take Art. l. collection, add boiling water (glass), 20 minutes. insist. After straining, everything is drunk in three doses per day.

Turmeric

Turmeric powder (tsp) is poured with warm water (250 ml). Add honey, mix and drink 100 ml before meals in the morning and evening.

Prevention

To avoid becoming a patient with liver cirrhosis, you need to:

• stop smoking, do not drink alcohol;
• treat gastrointestinal diseases, especially infectious ones, in a timely manner;
• limit your diet, not including spicy, fatty, fried, smoked foods; It is worth giving up semi-finished products, not eating unhealthful and harmful foods and dishes;
• eat foods high in vitamins and microelements;
• do not self-medicate and do not prescribe medications without a doctor;
• adhere to the rules of personal hygiene;
• take preventive measures to protect yourself from hepatitis viruses.

Forecast

How long a patient can live with liver cirrhosis depends on the stage at which the process is, the treatment taken, compliance with the doctor’s recommendations, and the patient’s lifestyle.

In the compensatory form of the disease, the mortality rate is half of those affected. The subcompensated form allows the patient to live 5 years (on average), the decompensated form - 3 years.

Video about liver cirrhosis

Video about a round table with a conversation about the disease with specialists who know everything about the disease and are involved in its treatment. The conversation was structured in the form of a dialogue between the presenter and specialists, which took place on one of the TV channels. A lot of time is devoted to questions coming from people watching the program.

After watching the video, you will learn not only about the disease itself, but also get answers to specific questions, for example, about a liver transplant from a relative, about symptoms that should alert a person, about treatment methods, about the prospects of living with cirrhosis.

In compensated liver cirrhosis, liver enzyme levels may be normal. A significant increase in ALT, AST, and GGTP is observed in alcoholic hepatitis resulting in cirrhosis, and a sharp increase in alkaline phosphatase in primary biliary cirrhosis. In addition, in patients with liver cirrhosis, total bilirubin increases and albumin levels decrease. The activity of aminotransferases in the terminal stage of liver cirrhosis is always reduced (there are no functioning hepatocytes and no enzymes).

A score of clinical symptoms has been developed to determine the severity of cirrhosis - the Child-Pugh scale. According to this scale, various levels of serum bilirubin, albumin and prothrombin time, as well as existing hepatic encephalopathy and ascites, are assigned specific numerical values. The results of this assessment are highly correlated with patient survival rates and liver transplantation outcomes. Determination of the severity of liver cirrhosis: Child-Pugh index.

An increase in such “liver” indicators as bilirubin, prothrombin index and albumin, included in the criteria of the Child-Pugh scale, used to assess the degree of compensation of cirrhosis and make a short-term prognosis of its progression, are observed in liver cirrhosis of classes B and C. The frequency of exceeding the GGTP norm observed in cirrhosis of all three classes.

Indicators of poor prognosis: bilirubin above 300 µmol/l; albumin below 20 g/l; prothrombin index less than 60%.

• How is liver cirrhosis treated?

  The main goal of treating liver cirrhosis is to stop the progression of the disease.

  In the treatment of patients with liver cirrhosis, a large role is given to the developed basic therapy aimed at treating diseases that led to the development of cirrhosis, relieving symptoms of the disease, and preventing complications.

  Treatment of liver cirrhosis consists of non-drug measures, drug treatment and surgical methods of therapy.

  According to indications, eubiotics are prescribed - Baktisubtil, Enterol, Bifidumbacterin and Lactobacterin.

  • Infectious diseases.

    Prevention and early treatment of concomitant diseases, including infectious ones, are of great importance. It is recommended to prescribe preventive courses of antibacterial drugs during any instrumental manipulation (tooth extraction, laparoscopy, vascular catheterization).

  • Zinc deficiency.

    Patients with liver cirrhosis often have a deficiency of zinc in the body. Therefore, it is necessary to prescribe this microelement in the amount of 220 mg 2 times / day. In addition, such treatment will improve the sense of taste and increase appetite. Zinc is also effective for the treatment of muscle spasms and as an adjunct in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, as it can reduce the symptoms of hyperammonemia. For this purpose, zinc sulfate (Zincteral) is prescribed orally before meals for adults at 0.4-1.2 g/day in 3 divided doses.

  • Skin itching.

    Itching is a common complaint from patients with liver cirrhosis. It occurs due to an increase in the content of bile acids in the blood serum during cholestasis. In most cases, this symptom can be relieved by prescribing antihistamines.

    In addition, patients with itchy skin are prescribed cholestyramine, ursodeoxycholic acid (Ursosan, Ursofalk), naltrexone (Antaxon), rifampin (Benemycin, Rimactan, Rifadin), gabapentin (Neurontin, Tebantin), ondansetron (Zofran, Emetron).

  • Hypogonadism.

    Some men experience hypogonadism. Therefore, such patients can be prescribed testosterone drugs.

  • Osteoporosis.
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma.

    Patients with an established diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and the absence of extrahepatic pathology (which must be confirmed by CT scan of the chest and abdomen) undergo radical therapy. In patients with class A disease severity, liver resection is performed. The relapse rate 5 years after liver resection is 50%.

    Patients with disease severity classes B and C are candidates for liver transplantation. The 4-year survival rate after liver transplantation is 85% if the tumor size was less than 5 cm or the patient had 3 or fewer smaller tumors. In 40% of cases, hepatocellular carcinoma can develop in grafts.

    While waiting for an organ transplant, they should receive therapy that could prevent the progression of the malignant process: percutaneous ethanol injections into the tumor, percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation, liver chemoembolization.

    The essence of chemoembolization is the intra-arterial administration of chemotherapy drugs and embolization of the vessels supplying the tumor, which leads to the creation of a high local concentration of chemotherapy drugs and tumor ischemia, as well as a decrease in the systemic toxic effect.

    Chemoembolization is a relatively safe and effective treatment method, since liver tumors receive blood from the hepatic artery. The liver's unique dual blood supply (from the hepatic artery and portal vein) allows for safe hepatic artery embolization with little risk of liver ischemia.

    
    Hepatocellular carcinoma after chemoembolization.

• What should a patient with cirrhosis of the liver know and do?

  A patient with liver cirrhosis should be informed about the possible complications of his disease (ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, bleeding from varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach), and know their manifestations.

  Thus, hepatic encephalopathy is characterized by drowsiness, behavioral disorders, and memory impairment; in later stages, coma occurs. To control the degree of encephalopathy, you can use a handwriting test: keep a diary in which you write a short phrase every day. If your handwriting changes, you should consult a doctor. The appearance of hepatic encephalopathy is promoted by: uncontrolled use of diuretics; vomiting and diarrhea (accompanied by the loss of large amounts of fluid and disturbances in the composition of blood electrolytes); bleeding from varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach; infections; constipation (increased absorption of toxic substances in the intestine occurs); protein-rich foods; alcohol consumption.

  Gastrointestinal bleeding is manifested by vomit that looks like “coffee grounds” and loose stools that look like “raspberry jelly.” In this case, weakness occurs or sharply increases, up to loss of consciousness. If gastrointestinal bleeding is suspected, emergency medical attention is required.

  Patients with liver cirrhosis are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. Most often they experience spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The main manifestations of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis are: fever, chills, abdominal pain. Therefore, if your body temperature rises and abdominal pain appears, you should consult a doctor. It must be remembered that in 30% of cases the disease is asymptomatic.

  Patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis should avoid taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethacin

• How to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding?

  Bleeding from varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach can begin with a sharp rise in pressure in the abdominal cavity, so patients with liver cirrhosis are not recommended to lift weights and do physical exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles.

• How to control manifestations of ascites?

  If there is fluid retention in the body, which is manifested by swelling of the legs, ascites (the appearance of free fluid in the abdominal cavity), it is necessary to limit the intake of table salt to 0.5 g per day, fluid intake to 1000-1500 ml per day. It is advisable to avoid drinking mineral waters containing sodium. Products containing baking soda (cakes, biscuits, cakes, pastries and regular bread) are excluded. It is necessary to exclude from the diet pickles, olives, ham, bacon, corned beef, tongues, oysters, mussels, smoked herring, canned fish and meat, fish and meat pate, sausage, mayonnaise, various jarred sauces and all types of cheeses, as well as ice cream; salty canned foods.

  To control the increase in fluid volume in the abdominal cavity, it is necessary to: measure body weight daily; daily measure the volume of the abdomen at the level of the navel (an increase in the volume of the abdomen and body weight indicates increasing fluid retention); calculate the fluid balance per day (diuresis), subtracting from the total volume of all liquid ingested per day (tea, skin, water, soup, fruit) all the liquid released during urination.

  The patient must achieve positive diuresis, that is, a patient with edema or ascites must excrete approximately 200 ml more fluid per day than he takes orally. It must be remembered that a large loss of fluid in the urine can provoke encephalopathy.

  The dose of diuretics taken should be adjusted taking into account fluid balance. If too much urine is produced, the dose of diuretics should be reduced after consultation with a doctor.

• How to prevent the occurrence of infectious diseases in liver cirrhosis?

  Patients with liver cirrhosis are more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections than healthy people. Most often, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurs in such patients.

  It must be remembered that patients with liver cirrhosis should be actively treated for concomitant infections; Prophylactic administration of antibiotics is indicated during any medical procedures (dental treatment, laparoscopy, catheterization).

  At the slightest sign of worsening of the disease, bed rest and hospital treatment are recommended.

• Diet for liver cirrhosis

• Can patients with liver cirrhosis exercise?

  In the compensated phase, patients can perform regular physical activity (walking, swimming).

  Patients with more severe disease can also perform special sets of physical exercises, but after consultation with a doctor and under the supervision of an instructor.

• Prognosis for liver cirrhosis

  The prognosis for liver cirrhosis is difficult to predict and is determined by many factors: the cause of the disease, the severity of the course, the presence of complications and concomitant diseases, and the effectiveness of the therapy.

  Patients who continue to drink alcohol (even in small quantities) always have a poor prognosis.

  Life expectancy with liver cirrhosis depends on the severity of the disease. With decompensated cirrhosis (in the presence of complications), 11-40% of patients remain alive after 3 years. In patients who have suffered spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, the risk of recurrence of this complication within 6 months is 43%; within 1 year - 69%; within 2 years - 74%.

  The main causes of death in liver cirrhosis are coma and bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract.

  The mortality rate for hepatic coma is 80-100%. In the presence of peritonitis, 50% of patients die. In the presence of ascites, life expectancy is 3-5 years. Varicose veins of the esophagus, stomach and intestines are found in 90% of patients with cirrhosis of the liver. In 30% of cases they are complicated by bleeding. Mortality after the first episode of bleeding is 30-50%. In 70% of patients who have experienced one episode of bleeding from esophageal varices, bleeding occurs again.

• Clinical observation of patients with liver cirrhosis

  If the condition of a patient with liver cirrhosis is stable, then 3-4 times a year he should undergo the following tests: a general clinical blood test, a biochemical blood test (with determination of liver and kidney function indicators). It is necessary to evaluate blood clotting parameters.

  Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is performed to identify varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach.

  If the size of varicose veins is small, then a repeat examination is carried out after 2-3 years to assess the dynamics of progression of the pathological process. If varicose veins are not found in the patient, then repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopy is performed after 3-5 years.

• Where to go with liver cirrhosis? Central Research Institute of Gastroenterology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Consultative and Diagnostic Department (CDD); Registration phone number 8-495-304-30-39. Address: 111123, Moscow, Enthusiastov Highway, 86.

Can hepatitis C patients afford physical activity? The answer to this question largely depends on the condition of the infected person. Hepatitis C is a serious disease that destroys the liver and causes negative effects on the functioning of other organs.

But if there is no acute pain and severe fatigue, then physical exercise for hepatitis C is welcome: it will strengthen the body’s defenses and help cope with the disease.

Why shouldn't you neglect physical education?

Exercise is vital for those infected with the hepatitis C virus.

There are several reasons for this:

1. Hepatitis C negatively affects lipid metabolism; problems arise in the body with the breakdown of fats. After all, most often associated diseases are gallbladder pathologies, including cholelithiasis. A diseased liver, unable to withstand the high load, refuses to break down large portions of incoming fats and sends them to body tissues. To avoid obesity in various organs, it is necessary to create a constant consumption of glycogen in the muscles. Adequate physical activity will help with this.
2. Physical inactivity is one of the worst enemies of the immune system. Physical education within reasonable limits increases the protective properties of the body. Exercises that saturate the blood with oxygen are especially useful.
3. Regular exercise improves blood circulation in the abdominal cavity, the flow of oxygenated blood to the liver, and normalizes the motor function of the biliary tract and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
4. An important point is also the positive emotional impact of sports. The diagnosis itself does not improve mood, and taking certain medications depresses the nervous system and can lead to depression.
5. And finally, the social factor. Exercising with friends is very beneficial for a patient who feels excluded from society.

At the same time, doctors talk specifically about feasible physical activity, and not about excessive stress or professional sports. Excessively strenuous exercise will aggravate pathological processes in inflamed cells and can lead to bleeding and necrosis of hepatocytes.

Don't forget that interferon and other drugs used to treat hepatitis C also cause additional stress in many organs other than the liver. Therefore, the loads should be light and enjoyable. You can do physical exercise in the fresh air - this additionally stimulates the body's protective functions.

What sports are useful?

And those who suffer from liver pathologies should all the more prepare the body for stress. Especially if before your illness you paid almost no attention to sports.

Here are the basic rules to follow:

Doctors consider race walking, jogging, skiing and skating, swimming, water aerobics, and team games (football, basketball, volleyball) to be the most suitable sports for those suffering from hepatitis C.

Alternatively, you can enroll in a dance class.

What precautions should you follow?

Any sports activity, even the simplest, is considered traumatic.

To protect yourself and others, you must consider some restrictions:

If you are infected with hepatitis C, it is important not to spread the virus to others. Cover any scratches with a band-aid, especially in contact sports.

Of course, it is very difficult to transmit the infection this way, but it is better to be on the safe side. It is better to bring your own towels, gloves, wristbands and other equipment to the gym. Hepatitis C and sports are not mutually exclusive concepts.

Physical activity is beneficial for all systems and tissues of the body, including the liver. The main thing is not to go too far and listen to your feelings. It’s even better to consult with your doctor, who, after analyzing your condition, will recommend a set of exercises or give you a referral for therapeutic exercises at a sports and fitness center.

Liver recovery after alcohol

Most often, liver problems occur due to excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. Moreover, studies have shown that even in small quantities ethanol is harmful to the body and causes intoxication. Due to stress on the body, the likelihood of diseases increases, and 90% of the total load falls on the liver.

Today there are many drugs for treating the liver, there are more or less effective ones, but treatment must be carried out comprehensively. To get positive results, you should stick to a diet, give up alcohol and use medications.

Why does alcohol harm the liver and how?

Under the influence of ethanol (the main part of alcoholic beverages), the liver and its tissue undergo morphological and pathological changes. This is how some cells die or become deformed. The metabolism of proteins in the body is also disrupted, which leads to an enlargement of the organ, similarly with the metabolism of fats. When dysfunction of fat metabolism develops, fatty degeneration of the organ is possible.

About 98% of ethyl alcohol is converted and filtered in the liver. Due to the complexity of the alcohol compound, it is necessary to transform the components several times to remove it. At one of the stages of removing ethanol from the body, acetaldehyde is formed, which is similar in properties to hydrocyanic acid. Similarly, at other stages of transformation, harmful substances are produced. If the effect on the liver exceeds its potential for transformation, then the acids are debugged in the body, which leads to intoxication.

Attention! Even under normal conditions, the decomposition of heavy acids leads to cell death. The liver has an independent regeneration function, but the process is protracted and requires good condition of the body. With constant alcohol consumption, the negative consequences become increasingly severe as deposits accumulate.

Regeneration occurs in several ways:

• Self-recovery of cells, even if they have been damaged.
• Creation of new hepacites. The process of liver renewal is very long and takes years, so the treatment of liver diseases is associated with this complexity.
• Increase in healthy hepatocytes. The process is a backup if other types of restoration cannot cover the need for filtration of the body. Thus, when cells die, they are replaced by other, old ones that have simply increased in size. The situation is a temporary solution, and further aggravation of the processes leads to serious illnesses.
• Replacement of liver cells with connective tissue. When it is not possible to achieve even a temporary improvement in the situation by increasing the size of hepatocytes, then the liver tissue is replaced with connective tissue. This is an extremely unfavorable case, since the process is irreversible, such tissues are not able to perform the functions of the liver. With continued alcohol consumption, it often provokes cirrhosis.

List of alcohol dangerous to the liver

Not only the percentage of alcohol in drinks has a negative effect on the body. It is often perceived that vodka is evil and that it causes many diseases, but low-alcohol drinks do not cause such consequences - this is a misconception. Vodka contains about 40% alcohol, which is quite high and has a negative effect on human health, and if you have liver disease, drinking such a drink is completely unacceptable, the same applies to low-alcohol cocktails.

More dangerous drinks include those types that dampen people's attention to alcohol. The most dangerous for the liver are:

1. Vodka, moonshine are an obvious point, since a high ethanol content destroys the liver, even consumption in small volumes prevents the body’s regenerative ability;
2. Beer is an undeservedly underrated drink, because it is often considered a refreshing drink. Many people drink several cans, which is equivalent to 100-300 grams of vodka. Without noticing it and not focusing attention on it, many cause irreparable damage to the liver. In addition to the alcohol content, danger also arises due to multiple additives that only add to the degree of harmfulness;
3. Low-alcohol drinks – due to their beautiful packaging and sweet or fruity taste, they are often perceived as a regular drink. At the same time, it contains about 9% ethanol; a jar of this mixture corresponds to 100 grams of vodka. Also, caffeine and sugar content unnecessarily burden the liver;
4. Whiskey, cognac - not only the quality of the product plays a role, but also the variety. In any case, a high alcohol content has an extremely negative effect on the body, but producing drinks using certain products creates an additional effect, which is not always good.

Most drinks have extremely harmful effects, but the ones listed above should not be consumed, especially if you have any liver disease.

In this video they will tell you how alcohol affects our body and, in particular, the liver.

Liver restoration occurs independently at the cellular level; the patient is only required to help the body with the task. Leading a healthy lifestyle greatly improves cell regeneration. Compliance with basic recommendations stimulates the course of drug treatment or is used as an independent healing procedure if there are no serious diseases.

1. Stop drinking alcohol completely, or at least minimize its effects. It should be taken into account that in women the onset of organ pathologies and mental attachment to alcohol occurs much earlier and with less alcohol, therefore preventive treatment of addiction should be carried out;
2. You should exercise, as a sedentary lifestyle contributes to congestion in the abdominal cavity. The type of sport should be discussed with a gastroenterologist to avoid causing damage to liver tissue. In general, fitness and exercise are recommended;
3. For other diseases, it is necessary to consult with specialists and minimize the use of drugs with a strong effect on the liver;
4. Normalize your diet. Irregular consumption of food, high levels of fat, sugar, and other negative foods significantly aggravate the regeneration process. In case of illness, you must adhere to a diet.

Drugs to restore the liver after alcohol

There is a wide range of drugs that help the liver recover after one-time or constant consumption of alcohol. First of all, we should highlight the most effective and popular medications that are actively prescribed by a gastroenterologist:

• Gepabene is a medicine in the form of drops, the main active ingredients are spotted milk thistle and medicinal fume. When consumed, urination increases and diarrhea is possible.
• Karsil is an effective drug made on the basis of silymarin.
• Milk thistle - oil from the plant of the same name, is also distributed in the form of tablets and powder.
• Essentiale - active phospholipids are used, which can be used in the form of capsules and ampoule solutions.
• Enerliv - phospholipids are the basis for the effectiveness of the drug.

For most drugs, the only contraindication is increased, individual sensitivity to any component. This characterizes their popularity; many use medications without a doctor's recommendation. Although this is bad form, the medication does not cause complications.

Folk remedies

Most medicines are made based on the known effects of herbs on the human body. Basically the principle is to remove all toxins, waste and other negative substances from the body. Folk remedies that have proven their effectiveness over the years have similar actions.

• Pumpkin, milk thistle and mint oils

It is necessary to mix these oils and take them on an empty stomach in the morning and evening. If you add birch mushroom (its extract or small pieces) to the mixture, an increase in the effect of the drug is observed. The effectiveness of treatment is determined by compliance with the basic rules of recovery.

• Adaptogens

For example, you should take: the root of Manchurian aralia, rosea radiola, tall zamanikha, ginseng, leuzea. To take the medicine, you should infuse 1 tbsp. l. ingredients for 1 cup of boiling water, consume in the morning. It also has a normalizing effect on blood pressure levels.

• Herbs

For example, valerian, fireweed and lemon balm can have a restorative effect on the liver and psycho-emotional state of a person. Ratio 1 tsp. to 1 cup boiling water. Can be consumed throughout the day, preferably in the evening.

The following have a stimulating effect on the liver: plantain, yarrow, stinging nettle, St. John's wort, elecampane, chamomile, rose hips and common flax. It is necessary to use infusions from any plant/fruit or you can make collections. Usually for 1 cup of boiling water there is 1 tsp. herbs, in the case of rose hips 3 tbsp. l. fruits

It is necessary to use 1 tbsp. l. three times a day. In addition to recovery, burdock juice has the function of eliminating inflammatory effects. It should be taken 1 tbsp. before meals. Lemon or its juice helps eliminate inflammation and is a means to prevent liver diseases.

Diet

Eating foods that reduce the load on the liver has a positive effect on the treatment of any diseases of the organ. To maintain the regeneration of hepatocytes, food is often used that does not require excessive processing by the liver. So the diet should include:

• Eating steamed food.
• Normalization of diet. It is necessary to adhere to the normal proportion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Balance your diet so that it contains all the necessary elements.
• Avoid eating too cold and hot foods.
• Separate nutrition is required. It is best to eat food about 6 times a day, every 2-3 hours.
• Use more vegetables, fruits and only natural, fresh juices.

Creating the ground for recovery has a beneficial effect on rehabilitation, but the key to the issue is to give up alcohol, otherwise the result will be minimal.

Liver diseases cause serious consequences, including death, so treatment should not be started under any circumstances. Following the basic principles of treatment, following a diet and using medications or folk remedies allows you to recover as quickly as possible.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW!

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How does hepatitis C manifest? The first signs of the disease

Many people find out that they have hepatitis C by accident during the diagnosis of completely different diseases. The fact is that hepatitis C symptoms are mild and can be easily confused with signs of other diseases.

Hepatitis C (C) - what is it? This is an inflammatory liver disease caused by a special virus that is transmitted through the blood. There is no effective drug to protect against this virus, because it constantly mutates and becomes resistant to vaccines. However, modern medicine is constantly developing drugs that help patients recover.

Nevertheless, today more than 150 million people in the world have hepatitis, and every year it leads to death in approximately 350 thousand patients. If treatment for the disease is not started in time, complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer may occur.

People of all ages are susceptible to hepatitis, but in adults the disease is not as dangerous and painful as in young children.

What are the first signs of hepatitis C?

Often, for the first time after blood infection with a virus, patients feel great and are not aware of the onset of the disease. The incubation period for each person depends on the characteristics of the body and can last several weeks or several months.

And some people can even get hepatitis unnoticed or become a carrier of the virus without harm to their own health.

What are the signs of hepatitis in men and women? Most often this is great fatigue, tiredness, muscle pain - symptoms that are attributed to a common cold. In rare cases, the first signs of hepatitis are not only weakness, but also jaundice, so the virus can be immediately identified.

How to recognize the symptoms of hepatitis C?

There are two stages of hepatitis disease – acute and chronic. The first stage - acute hepatitis - is the beginning of infection and is often asymptomatic.

However, sometimes the following clinical manifestations may be noticeable at this time:

All these manifestations can be recognized at home in order to consult a doctor in time.

During an exacerbation of the disease, these additional symptoms may occur:

• urine has become much darker;
• the feces, on the contrary, became lighter;
• yellowness appeared on the skin and eyes.

How does chronic hepatitis manifest itself? This stage develops six months after acute hepatitis in 80% of cases and lasts for many years. However, patients may not even notice the transition to a new stage due to the great similarity of symptoms.

It is important to start treatment for hepatitis C on time, because after the chronic form the most severe stage develops with a fatal outcome.

It manifests itself as follows:

• regular bloating occurs and weight loss occurs (due to the fact that a large amount of water begins to accumulate in the abdominal cavity);
• human behavior changes greatly;
• scars (connective tissue) appear on the liver;
• constant fatigue and drowsiness can lead to stupor or coma;
• the body is covered with venous veins, the so-called asterisks.

If a patient's hepatitis C has severely damaged the liver, his life can only be prolonged by surgery - an organ transplant. Therefore, treatment cannot be started!

If you suspect any hepatitis, be sure to consult a specialist to determine your disease and begin proper treatment.

Where is the risk of contracting hepatitis C?

As already mentioned, the hepatitis virus is transmitted through biological fluid. That is, when infected blood gets into the damaged skin of a healthy person, onto mucous membranes, or directly into his blood.

Thus, the main causes of infection are as follows:

For the prevention and treatment of liver diseases, our readers successfully use an effective remedy...

Who is most susceptible to hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is now detected in people of all professions, ages and races. But there are groups of people who are at higher risk of contracting the virus than others.

These include people who:

Hepatitis C is most severely affected by people with bad habits, such as alcohol or drug addiction. The virus is also difficult for children and the elderly to carry.

How to protect yourself from the virus?

Although there is still no cure that will prevent hepatitis C from spreading into the bloodstream, there are ways to protect yourself.

1. Follow standard hygiene rules: do not use other people's toothbrushes, razors, scissors and other tools and things.
2. Try to visit only high-quality and reliable beauty salons and medical centers, where all instruments are sterile.
3. Do not share syringes, or better yet, avoid narcotic drugs and suspicious injections altogether.
4. If you work with human body fluids, especially blood, always wear gloves and follow safety precautions.
5. If you are promiscuous, be sure to protect yourself with special means.
6. If you live with an infected person, be wary of their blood. You can communicate with him, hug, kiss and even eat from the same dishes without worry.
7. Lead a healthy lifestyle and exercise - this will reduce the risk of any other diseases.

And if you are already infected with hepatitis C, then to successfully combat it you must do the following:

1. Completely give up bad habits that greatly affect the liver - alcohol, drugs, smoking.
2. Watch your diet and follow a diet. It is necessary to eat foods that restore liver cells.
3. Try to lead a healthy lifestyle, as well as move a lot, play sports, and do physical exercises for your body.
4. Be sure to follow your doctor's recommendations.

For any hepatitis, remember these simple rules to speed up the treatment process. With a healthy lifestyle and complete cessation of bad habits, you will not be bothered by the symptoms of hepatitis, much less its exacerbation.

How to diagnose a virus?

To diagnose the virus, a person needs to donate blood from a vein several times for different tests.

First of all, you need to:

• check the level of platelets and reticulocytes in biological fluid;
• check blood clotting index;
• assess the performance of liver functions, that is, conduct liver tests;
• find out the degree of viral load.

Based on the results of these tests, doctors will determine whether hepatitis C is present in the blood or not. Then it will be possible to prescribe a specific course of treatment.

How long will a person with hepatitis C live if left untreated?

It is impossible to give a definite answer to this question - it all depends on the physical structure and general health of the person. On average, cirrhosis of the liver develops in people approximately 20-30 years after the virus enters the blood.

According to statistics, the liver was destroyed more often in adults than in young people. Cirrhosis developed:

• in 2% of patients who became ill before 20 years of age;
• in 6% of patients who were infected at 21-30 years of age;
• in 10% of people who got the virus into their blood at the age of 31-40;
• in 37% of infected people who became infected at 41-50 years of age;
• in 63% of those infected after 50 years.

In addition, many studies have proven that the effectiveness of treatment greatly depends on the gender and age of the patient. Women tolerate hepatitis C more easily, while men develop the fatal stage more quickly. And the younger the patient, the easier it is to cure him. People with low body weight also respond better to treatment.

What time is best for treatment? Of course, the milder the stage of hepatitis C, the greater the likelihood that a person will be successfully cured of the disease.

The main thing to remember

Almost all people are susceptible to hepatitis C virus disease. Follow all the personal safety rules described above and lead a healthy lifestyle. If you feel unwell and at least one sign of hepatitis, consult a doctor immediately. You will immediately begin treatment and successfully cope with the virus!

STABILIN is a special suspension used to regulate metabolic processes and restore the regeneration and functions of liver cells...

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2. The first signs and symptoms of hepatitis A
3. Symptoms and signs of hepatitis B (B) in women and men
4. Hepatitis C virus genotypes - how to determine the genotype and which is the most dangerous?