Can smoking and drinking alcohol cause liver cancer?
Disease description:
I’ve always enjoyed drinking alcohol and smoking. Recently, I heard that these habits can lead to liver cancer. Could you please tell me whether smoking and drinking alcohol can cause liver cancer?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Qi Zhirong
Research indicates that long-term alcohol consumption can cause significant damage to hepatocytes (liver cells). In Western countries, alcohol-related liver disease—such as alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis—is readily observable among chronic drinkers. Moreover, the incidence of alcohol-associated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is rising annually. Thus, prolonged alcohol use may severely impair liver function. Similarly, long-term smoking also adversely affects overall health. For optimal health, it is advisable to limit or avoid both alcohol consumption and tobacco use.
