What’s the function of liver ? 肝的功能是什么?
The liver is an essential organ of the body that performs over 500 vital functions. These include removing waste products and foreign substances from the bloodstream （血液）, regulating blood sugar levels （血糖水平）, and creating essential nutrients. Here are some of its most important functions:
肝脏是人体的重要器官，有500多种重要功能。这些功能包括清除血液中的废物和异物，调节血糖水平，以及产生必需的营养物质。以下是它的一些最重要的功能:
Albumin （血清中的白蛋白[ælˈbjumən]）Production: Albumin is a protein that keeps fluids in the bloodstream from leaking into surrounding tissue. It also carries hormones, vitamins, and enzymes through the body.
白蛋白的产生:白蛋白是一种防止血液中的液体渗漏到周围组织的蛋白质。它还携带激素，维生素和酶通过身体。
Bile （胆汁）Production: Bile is a fluid that is critical to the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine.
胆汁的产生:胆汁是一种液体，对小肠中脂肪的消化和吸收至关重要。
Filters Blood（过滤血液）: All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver, which removes toxins, byproducts, and other harmful substances.
过滤血液:所有从胃和肠流出的血液都会经过肝脏，肝脏会清除毒素、废物和其他有害物质。
Regulates Amino Acids (调节氨基酸): The production of proteins depend on amino acids. The liver makes sure amino acid levels in the bloodstream remain healthy.
调节氨基酸:蛋白质的产生依赖于氨基酸。肝脏确保血液中的氨基酸水平保持健康。
Resists Infections（抵抗感染）: As part of the filtering process, the liver also removes bacteria from the bloodstream.
抵抗感染:作为过滤过程的一部分，肝脏还可以清除血液中的细菌。
Stores Vitamins and Minerals（储存维生素和矿物质）: The liver stores significant amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, as well as iron and copper.
储存维生素和矿物质:肝脏储存了大量的维生素A、D、E、K和B12，以及铁和铜。
Processes Glucose（处理葡萄糖）: The liver removes excess glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and stores it as glycogen（糖源/ˈɡlaɪ.koʊ.dʒən/）. As needed, it can convert glycogen back into glucose. (from columbiasurgery.org)
处理葡萄糖:肝脏从血液中清除多余的葡萄糖(糖)，并将其储存为糖原。根据需要，它可以将糖原转化为葡萄糖。
What causes cirrhosis? 肝硬化的病因是什么?
Cirrhosis （肝硬化/səˈroʊ.sɪs/）is a type of liver damage where healthy cells are replaced by scar tissue. Common causes include excessive drinking of alcohol, hepatitis （肝炎/ˌhep.əˈtaɪ.t̬əs/）B and C virus infections, and fatty liver that’s caused by obesity （肥胖）and diabetes （糖尿症/ˌdaɪ.əˈbiː.t̬əs/）. (from betterhealth.vic.gov.au)
肝硬化是一种肝脏损伤，健康细胞被疤痕组织所取代。常见的原因包括过度饮酒、乙型和丙型肝炎病毒感染，以及由肥胖和糖尿病引起的脂肪肝。
What are the symptoms of cirrhosis? 肝硬化的症状是什么?
You may have no symptoms in the earliest stage of cirrhosis. Symptoms of cirrhosis may not appear until the liver is badly damaged. 在肝硬化的早期阶段你可能没有任何症状。肝硬化的症状可能直到肝脏严重受损才会出现。
Early symptoms of cirrhosis may include 肝硬化的早期症状包括：
feeling tired or weak 感到疲倦或虚弱
itching of the skin 皮肤瘙痒
poor appetite 食欲不振
losing weight without trying 体重下降
nausea and vomiting 食欲不振
mild pain or discomfort over the liver in the upper right side of the abdomen, or belly
腹部右上方肝脏或腹部的轻微疼痛或不适
muscle loss and weakness 肌肉萎缩和无力
muscle cramps 肌肉痉挛
sexual problems 性问题
As liver function gets worse, people with cirrhosis may have other symptoms, including 随着肝功能的恶化，肝硬化患者可能会出现其他症状，包括：
bruising and bleeding easily 容易擦伤和出
confusion, difficulty thinking, memory loss, personality changes, or sleep disorders
思维混乱、思维困难、记忆力减退、性格改变或睡眠障碍
internal bleeding due to the bursting of enlarged veins—called varices （静脉曲张）—in the esophagus （食管/ɪˈsɑː.fə.ɡəs/）, stomach, or intestines
由于食管、胃或肠内静脉曲张破裂而引起的内出血
swelling in the lower legs, ankles, or feet, called edema （水肿 /ɪˈdiː.mə/ ）
小腿、脚踝或脚肿胀，称为水肿
swelling of the abdomen from a buildup of fluid, called ascites （腹水[ә’saiti:z]）
腹部由于液体积聚而引起的腹部肿胀，称为腹水
severe itchy skin 皮肤严重瘙痒
darkening of the color of the urine 尿色变深尿液颜色变深
yellowish tint to the whites of the eyes and skin, called jaundice （黄疸） (from niddk.nih.gov/ )
眼睛和皮肤的白色呈黄色
How is cirrhosis treated? 如何医治肝硬化？
Treatment for cirrhosis depends on the cause and extent of your liver damage. The goals of treatment are to slow the progression of scar tissue in the liver and to prevent or treat symptoms and complications of cirrhosis. You may need to be hospitalized if you have severe liver damage.
肝硬化的治疗取决于肝损伤的原因和程度。治疗的目的是减缓肝脏瘢痕组织的进展，预防或治疗肝硬化的症状和并发症。如果你有严重的肝损伤，你可能需要住院。
Treatment for alcohol dependency. People with cirrhosis caused by excessive alcohol use should try to stop drinking. If stopping alcohol use is difficult, your health care provider may recommend a treatment program for alcohol addiction. If you have cirrhosis, it is very important to stop drinking since any amount of alcohol is toxic to the liver.
Weight loss. People with cirrhosis caused by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may become healthier if they lose weight and control their blood sugar levels.
治疗对酒精依赖。过度饮酒引起的肝硬化患者应尽量戒酒。如果停止饮酒是困难的，你的医疗保健提供者可能会推荐酒精成瘾的治疗方案。如果你有肝硬化，停止饮酒是非常重要的，因为任何数量的酒精都对肝脏有毒。
减肥。
Medicines to control hepatitis. Medicines may limit further damage to liver cells caused by hepatitis B or C through specific treatment of these viruses.
控制肝炎的药物。药物可以通过对乙肝或丙肝病毒的特异性治疗来限制乙肝或丙肝病毒对肝细胞的进一步损害。
Medicines to control other causes and symptoms of cirrhosis. Medicines may slow the progression of certain types of liver cirrhosis. For example, for people with primary biliary cholangitis （原发性胆管炎） that is diagnosed early, medicine may significantly delay progression to cirrhosis. （from mayoclinic.org）
控制肝硬化其他原因和症状的药物。药物可以减缓某些类型肝硬化的进展。例如，对于早期诊断的原发性胆管炎患者，药物可能会显著延缓肝硬化的进展。
