Answer:

A diet high in sugar can harm health, increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, kidney stones, tooth enamel erosion, and acne. Many studies also show a link between high sugar intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver cancer. A 2023 Harvard University study found that women who drank at least one sugary beverage daily had a 73% higher risk of liver cancer. The WHO recommends consuming under 25g of sugar per day, combined with green vegetables, fruits, adequate water intake, sufficient sleep, and regular exercise to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Therefore, you should reduce your daily sugar intake, ideally consuming under 25g of sugar per day, to prevent liver cancer and other chronic diseases, as recommended by the WHO. You should also eat plenty of green vegetables, fruits, diversify your diet, drink enough water, get sufficient sleep, and exercise regularly to promote good metabolism and lower the risk of chronic diseases.

Consuming many sweets is a harmful habit, easily leading to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of liver cancer. Photo: Vecteezy

Beyond diet, 80% of current liver cancer cases are due to hepatitis B virus infection. This virus spreads through unsafe sexual contact, from mother to child, and via blood. The younger a person is infected, the higher the risk of chronic hepatitis and liver cancer. Vietnam has a high prevalence of hepatitis B, and there is currently no complete cure for the disease.

In addition to dietary habits, you should practice safe sex and avoid sharing personal items to prevent virus transmission. Hepatitis B can be prevented with vaccines, including three types: Heberbiovac HB (Cuba) and Gene Hbvax (Vietnam), and Twinrix (Belgium), which prevents both hepatitis A and B in one injection. Adults require three doses within six months, with hepatitis B testing before booster shots.

You should check your vaccination history and get tested for hepatitis B antibody levels to determine if you have protective antibodies or are infected. If you currently have hepatitis B, vaccination is not necessary, as it will no longer be effective. However, if you do not have antibodies to hepatitis B or your antibody levels are below protective thresholds, you should get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Doctor Ha Manh Cuong

Medical Manager, VNVC Vaccination System

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