Smoking And Liver Damage: How Smoking Affects The Liver

‘Smoking is injurious to health’ and affects almost every organ and tissue in the body, including the liver.

Since your liver is responsible for processing and removing harmful substances from the blood (by the process called detoxification), the effects of smoking are quite pronounced on it as well. Smoking can cause direct and indirect toxic effects on the liver leading to inflammation, tissue damage and an increased risk for liver cancer.

Often overlooked but crucial for detoxification, the liver bears the brunt of smoking's impact, leading to inflammation, damage, and an increased risk of liver cancer. Join us as we delve into the ominous partnership between smoking and the liver, exposing a grim reality that calls for our attention and action.

Let us understand more about smoking and liver damage in this blog!

How does smoking affect the liver

Smoking significantly impacts liver function as it causes damage to liver cells and impairs their ability to perform their essential functions. Common constituents of cigarette smoke can be either in the gaseous or particulate phase.

• Gaseous phase: Contains carbon monoxide, hydrocyanic acid, acetaldehyde, ammonia, formaldehyde, oxides of nitrogen, hydrazine and vinyl chloride. While some of these gaseous substances impair oxygen transport, others harm tissues and cells.
• Particulate phase: These components include tar, polynuclear hydrocarbons, cresol, catechol, phenol, nicotine, indole and carbazole. These are harmful substances which lead to cancer and affect the nerves.

The constituents of other forms of smoking, like beedi, tobacco, etc., are similar.

Here’s how smoking affects the liver:

1. Tissue Damage

Smoking triggers oxidative stress in the liver, leading to cellular and tissue damage. This damage reduces the liver's ability to process and remove toxins from the body, resulting in the build up of harmful substances in the bloodstream.

2. Impact on Liver Enzymes

The effects of smoking on liver enzymes are widely known. However, it has been shown to increase the levels of liver enzymes in the bloodstream– a classic sign of liver inflammation or damage. Elevated liver enzymes may be an early indicator of liver problems, and smokers may have higher levels of these enzymes than non-smokers.

3. Liver Inflammation

Smoking causes inflammation in the liver, which can lead to further damage and impair liver function. Chronic inflammation can increase the risk of developing liver disease, including liver cancer.

4. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Smoking has been associated with a heightened risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This is one of the most common liver conditions and is characterized by fat build up in the liver. In severe cases, NAFLD can lead to liver inflammation, scarring, and even liver failure. Smoking can contribute to the development of NAFLD by increasing insulin resistance and inflammation in the body.

What is the link between smoking and liver cancer

Smoking is a significant risk factor for liver cancer, even among people who have quit the habit. Smoke constituents like vinyl chloride, tar, nitrosamines and 4-aminobiphenyl have been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer.

Here's how smoking is linked to liver cancer:

• Studies have shown that smokers are at an increased risk of developing liver cancer compared to non-smokers. This risk is even higher for heavy smokers or those who have smoked for many years.
• Smoking shows a strong association with liver tumours, which can be cancerous or non-cancerous. One study found that smokers had a higher incidence of liver tumours than non-smokers and that the risk increased with the number of daily cigarettes.
• In people with other risk factors like hepatitis B or C, heavy alcohol consumption and obesity, smoking can increase the risk of developing liver cancer.
• It can damage liver function, leading to inflammation and scarring of the liver, which can increase the risk of developing liver cancer. Smoking is also known to weaken the immune response, making it challenging for the body to fight off cancer cells.

Can quitting smoking improve liver function?

Quitting smoking can help improve liver function and reverse some of the damage caused by smoking. However, this depends upon the amount of liver damage that has already occurred.

If you are a smoker and decide to quit for your health, here are some of the ways in which quitting smoking can benefit liver health:

1. Reduced liver enzymes

Quitting smoking has been shown to reduce levels of liver enzymes in the bloodstream, which is a sign of improved liver function.

2. Reduced inflammation

Quitting smoking can also reduce inflammation in the liver, which can help to prevent further damage and promote the healing of existing liver damage.

3. Improves blood flow

Smoking can reduce blood flow to the liver, which can have direct effects on liver function. By quitting smoking, you can help restore the blood flow to the liver enabling the organ to function better.

4. Lowers your risk for liver cancer

By quitting smoking, you are automatically lowering your risk for liver cancer. Your risk remains even after you quit smoking, but it is significantly lower than in smokers. A study found that the risk of liver cancer among people who quit smoking was similar to that of non-smokers, while current smokers had a significantly higher risk.

5. Lowers your risk for NAFLD

Giving up smoking entirely can help reduce the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition in which fat builds up in the liver.

Conclusion

By now, you would have understood that smoking and liver damage are inherently linked. Smoking can significantly impact liver function, causing damage to liver cells, elevating liver enzymes, promoting inflammation, and increasing the risk of liver cancer. Smokers are also at a higher risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

To protect liver function, individuals should take steps to quit smoking and adopt a healthy lifestyle, including eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol consumption. Regular exercise and getting vaccinated against hepatitis B and C can also help to protect liver health. Overall, it is essential to prioritise liver health and take proactive steps to protect this vital organ. By quitting smoking and adopting healthy habits, individuals can reduce their risk of liver damage, inflammation, and cancer and promote optimal liver function for a lifetime of good health.