Fatty liver should not be underestimated

  In recent years, with the improvement of people’s living standard, the prevalence of fatty liver is on the rise, and it is divided into alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease according to the presence or absence of alcohol consumption. At present, the incidence of fatty liver in China has accounted for more than 10% of the general population. Especially in obese, alcoholic and diabetic people, it is as high as 50-60%. Studies have found that 20% of NAFLD can progress to cirrhosis, and 30-40% of these patients die from liver-related diseases, with some developing subacute liver failure and hepatocellular liver cancer. In the next decade, fatty liver will become the main target of liver disease prevention and treatment in China.  Fatty liver is a reversible disease, and early diagnosis and timely treatment can often restore normalcy. The treatment includes non-pharmacologic basic treatment and pharmacologic treatment of the causes and triggers.  For obese people, protein, fat and carbohydrate can be adjusted according to 15%-20%, 20%-25% and 50%-60% of total calorie intake respectively, and adhere to high protein, low fat and low sugar diet. Reasonable distribution of the three meals, for combined diabetes can be distributed in the ratio of 1/5, 2/5, 2/5.  (2) Exercise therapy: moderate or above aerobic exercise for about 1 hour daily and at least 5 times a week.  (3) Behavioral therapy: Correct the psychological and lifestyle deviations that induce obesity to establish normal thinking, eating and exercise habits through behavioral interventions.  (4) Abstinence therapy: Abstinence from alcohol is the main measure for the treatment of alcoholic fatty liver disease and is a prerequisite for the effectiveness of other therapeutic measures, and the lesions can be completely reversed even after weeks or months of abstinence.  In terms of drug treatment, no specific medicine has been found for fatty liver, but Chinese medicine has certain efficacy in treating fatty liver. The treatment of fatty liver in Chinese medicine is mostly based on “obesity”, “phlegm” and “accumulation”, and the pathogenesis is mostly attributed to liver depression, spleen deficiency, and interconnection of dampness, phlegm and stagnation. Most of the treatment is based on strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, activating blood circulation, removing phlegm and dispelling dampness.