Liver cancer indeed is one of the serious health concerns and strikes thousands around the world with this disease annually. Every day, smokers and alcoholics are at higher risk. However, most of the liver cancer cases can be prevented by healthy lifestyles. This blog is a guide for smokers and alcohol concumers to prevent liver cancer. We are going to share some of the risks involved with smoking and alcohol use, along with a way in which you can practically guard your liver and bring down the risks of liver cancer.
Liver Cancer
However, to give you the prevention strategies for liver cancer, let me explain what liver cancer is and how it happens. I agree with so many people that the liver is an organ of great importance to the body. It detoxifies the blood, removes waste products, and helps the digestion of fats by secreting enzymes in the bile. It also stores energy in the form of glucose.
There could be many reasons to explain this circumstance. However, getting exposed to harmful substances such as tobacco smoke and alcohol for a longer time could be a dominant reason—these substances gradually damage cells in the liver, leading to inflammation that progresses into cancer.
There are two types of liver cancer. The first one refers to the cancer that develops within the organ, and the second is referred to as metastatic or secondary liver cancer from another part. This factsheet is mainly concerned with primary liver cancer, which is the one directly exposed to lifestyle causes such as smoking and drinking.
How are Smoking and Liver Cancer connected?
You can ask how smoking is terrible, mainly for the lungs, yet it causes liver cancer. Because, tobacco smoke contains harmful chemicals. And that, my dear mates, those chemicals that you let out when you smoke, they go directly to whichever organ within his body, and next into the bloodstream, to his liver.
Presumably, the liver also cleans blood from toxins, which is the critical mandate for the organ. Nevertheless, its being subjected to terrible results of hazardous chemicals in cigarette smoke makes it delicate and fragile. You see, such inflammation and scarring can culminate in the liver, referred to as cirrhosis, which is a common liver cancer cause.
What is the effect of alcohol consumption?
Another chemical that can further raise the chances of your developing liver cancer is alcohol. The element makes up a large proportion of alcohol. Upon consumption, alcohol decomposes in your body and excretes it from your body through excrement. A process such as this releases toxins that may harm the liver cells.
Long time and excessive drinking could result in alcoholic fatty liver disease. Again this in the long run can lead to liver inflammation to become cirrhosis. As mentioned above, cirrhosis significantly increases the liver cancer risk.
Alcohol further impairs the functioning of the liver to metabolize and transparent other agents, causing poisoning in the body. Consequently, there is increased exposure to carcinogens. To add to this, alcohol impairs the body’s ability to repair DNA damage that would otherwise allow cancerous change to occur in the cells of the liver.
The combined effect of smoking and drinking
If smoking is a way of life, as is the taking of alcohol, then the liver is being subjected to the worst of both evils. And if you are already afflicted with both these vices, you are in a much graver peril of being stricken with liver cancer than if you only indulge in just one of them.
In combination with increased toxins, smoked tobacco and alcohol may lead to additional liver damage. They also interact in ways that make it much more challenging for your body to repair damage and combat cancer-causing changes in cells. That is the reason why people who smoke and drink have an added importance for their reduction of risk of liver cancer.
Steps in reducing your risk for liver cancer
Now that we understand how smoking and drinking can cause liver cancer let us first look at some simple steps you can take to reduce your risk:
Quit smoking
Quickly, the single uncontestable way to reduce your probability of acquiring liver cancer, and theoretically, any other disease, is to stop smoking. It is tough to do, but there are plenty of resources to assist you in getting through it. NRTs, prescription drugs, and counseling are some of the tools you can use for the quit process.
Quitting smoking heals your body quickly after quitting. Your blood level of carbon monoxide will be reduced hours after quitting. Within days, your sense of taste and smell improves. Time will pass, and your risk of getting liver cancer and any other smoking-related diseases will start to decrease.
Reduce alcohol consumption
It is better to limit alcohol because there are guidelines that suggest that men should consume no more than two drinks in a single day and women should drink a single drink. Anyone with liver complications should prefer to take alcohol at all.
Remember, any amount of alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer; the lower, the better is the phrase that aptly describes this. Drinking heavily on occasion can severely impact the liver, but real change often comes from gradual cuts in consumption.
Maintain a healthy weight
There are cases where obesity could promote a health condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This risk can be minimized by keeping to a healthy weight since this means you won’t be a candidate for gaining or losing weight.
The guideline recommends eating more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and less fat protein. One should also reduce intake of processed foods, sugary drinks, and saturated fats. Regular exercise assists in maintaining weight and general liver function.
Below are some crucial steps to follow for sure:
- Hepatitis B Vaccine: Chronic liver infection which includes Hepatitis B virus can be harmful for the liver. This is particularly relevant to certain populations such as individuals with multiple sexual partners.
- Hepatitis C Screening: Hepatitis C is also a viral illness which has a potential of causing liver carcinogenesis. Unlike the last one, there is no vaccination. However, unlike that, management is possible if the condition is detected in its primary stages.
- Minimize carcinogen exposure: Certain substances increase the probability of developing liver cancer. Therefore, if one is working in such an environment, adhere to all safety protocols and limit exposure to other harmful materials that are not work-related where possible.
- Health maintenance: Health maintenance practices such as regular consultations with a physician may help detect any arising complications in their formative stages when the chances of successful treatment are still very high.
Effects of Lifestyle Changes
Smokers and alcoholics also are liable for the development of cancer. However, in case of a lifestyle change in a healthy direction, indeed, all the differences count towards your health. It does not matter whether you smoked thoughtfully or drank seriously for years.
The liver starts to heal once smoking is stopped or alcohol consumption is reduced. Inflammation and damage to liver tissues start coming down, and the liver regenerates even better. This can decline the chances of getting liver cancer in the long run remarkably.
Other than these, lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption prevent several cancers, heart conditions, and stroke, among other conditions. You will observe an improvement in energy levels, an increase in your ability to breathe, the condition of your skin, and general health.
Seek support
For example, trying to quit smoking or another alcohol dependency can be quite problematic. Do not be hesitant to seek some help. Talk to your doctor about the resources and strategies that can help you. You may also find joining a support group or seeking helpful counseling. Friends and family can also give much-appreciated emotional support.
Remember, it’s a journey to have a healthy liver. Things will go bad sometimes, but every step closer to a healthier lifestyle is a step toward a better you. Be kind to your progress and celebrate victories as small as possible.
Conclusion
Lifestyle modifications may help lessen the risks associated with this killer disease. Indeed, despite the seriousness of this disease known as liver cancer, many cases may be avoided through lifestyle adjustments. If you regularly smoke and drink, you can significantly reduce your risk by quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake, keeping up to a healthy weight, and taking other protective measures.
While the concept of liver cancer is frightening, you shouldn’t lose sight of the constructive actions you can take in terms of how you can help protect your health. With every cigarette you don’t smoke, with every drink you choose not to have, you are adding up your win for your liver. Such changes are a direct investment in good health and well-being for years to come rather than just a reduction in the risk of cancer.
So remember, your health is in your hands. Take control now and start making the right decisions to ensure that your liver stays healthy and that you stay healthy, too. Your future will thank you for it.