Depression can damage your liver, this is definitely not an exaggerated statement. If you often feel tired and exhausted at a young age, you should pay attention, it may be a problem with your liver. Let's take a look at the manifestations of liver damage together!
【Depression can damage your liver】
Middle age is a period of career advancement and a turning point for health. Faced with various life pressures, such as depression, irritability, or cynicism, or being dissatisfied with the world and full of complaints, there are always endless knots in family, work, and society.
Regulating emotions is the key to nurturing the liver. As the saying goes, "There are always eight or nine things that are not satisfactory." In life, when encountering various frustrations, if you have the ability to change, let go and strive for it. If you have tried your best and still find it difficult to change, you should be more open-minded and not overly concerned. Holding grudges and lingering on them for a long time can affect your emotions and create a hidden burden.
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, anger injures the liver. The basic principle is that stagnation is caused by the obstruction of qi, which can eventually damage the liver. This should not be ignored.
【Manifestations of liver damage】
1. Yellowing of the skin or eyes
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver is connected to the eyes. If there is a problem with the liver, it will manifest in the eyes. The liver is responsible for the conversion and excretion of bilirubin. Bilirubin is an orange-yellow pigment. If the liver ages prematurely, bilirubin will accumulate in the blood, causing the eyes and skin to turn yellow.
2. Easy drunkenness
If you used to have a good alcohol tolerance, but now get drunk easily, it may be a sign of early liver aging. The liver is responsible for metabolizing and breaking down alcohol. If the liver ages prematurely and its function declines, it will result in easy drunkenness. It is well known that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to the body, so it is recommended to avoid alcohol as much as possible.
3. Abdominal pain
If the liver ages prematurely, there may be pain in the liver area. The liver is located in the abdomen, and many people often confuse liver pain with stomach pain. Therefore, if you experience abdominal pain and it is not caused by stomach problems, you should consider it as a liver problem.
4. Digestive problems
After liver aging, liver function can be impaired, leading to various symptoms, including nausea, aversion to oily food, and general fatigue.
5. Spider angiomas and palmar erythema
If you notice the presence of spider angiomas or palmar erythema on your body, it is advisable to have your liver function checked at the hospital. Liver aging can cause damage to liver function, leading to a decrease in the liver's ability to metabolize estrogen and the appearance of spider angiomas.
【Causes of liver damage】
1. Viral infections:
Caused by various hepatitis viruses, with strong infectivity, complex transmission routes, widespread prevalence, and high incidence. Currently, viral hepatitis is mainly classified into five types: hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Recently, hepatitis G and hepatitis H have also been discovered. Hepatitis A and E are acute hepatitis transmitted through the fecal-oral route, which is commonly known as "disease entering through the mouth".
2. Medications or chemical toxins:
Many drugs and chemical toxins can cause liver damage, resulting in drug-induced hepatitis or toxic hepatitis. What causes liver damage depends on the dosage and duration of taking or being exposed to drugs or chemical toxins, as well as individual differences. Long-term use or repeated exposure to drugs and chemical toxins can lead to chronic hepatitis and even liver cirrhosis.
3. Alcohol abuse:
Alcohol can cause serious damage to the liver, including alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic fatty liver, and alcoholic liver cirrhosis. This is mainly due to the direct damage caused by the toxicity of alcohol (ethanol) and its metabolite acetaldehyde to liver cells.
According to research, if a person consumes more than 150 grams of alcohol per day for more than 5 years, 90% of them may experience various liver damage; after 10 years, about 30% may develop chronic hepatitis, and about one-fourth may progress to liver cirrhosis.
4. Other reasons:
Primary and secondary liver tumors, liver congestion caused by heart failure, certain congenital liver diseases, and high-priced venous nutrition can all cause liver damage to varying degrees. The early manifestations of this liver damage often include elevated ALT (aminotransferase) or bilirubin levels. If the underlying cause is not eliminated, the liver damage will worsen.
