4.2.4 Liver Cancer and Unhealthy Lifestyle

4.2.4 Liver Cancer and Unhealthy Lifestyle

Liver cancer is most prevalent among men aged 40–60, likely because men are more prone than women to unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking. Relevant epidemiological surveys show that both alcohol consumption and smoking are risk factors for liver cancer, and the amount consumed significantly increases the incidence of liver cancer [82–83]. Ethanol in liquor, when accumulated in the body over a long period and in large quantities, activates carcinogenic factors within the body, and ethanol itself can cause gene mutations, possessing carcinogenic properties, thereby exacerbating liver damage and impairing immune function, further increasing the risk of liver cancer. Nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco directly damage liver cells, causing lobular necrosis and pseudolobule hyperplasia.