Man rushed to emergency room after drinking 1 cup of herbal medicine every day

A 57-year-old man drank a cup of medicine every day and had to go to the emergency room in a lethargic state. Tests showed heart failure, sepsis invading the brain, and liver coma.

Overuse of herbal medicines can increase stress on the liver.

Mr. HL (57 years old, residing in Ho Chi Minh City) used to drink about 1 liter of alcohol every day without a medical examination. About 5 years ago, Mr. L. discovered that he had stage C cirrhosis. Recently, he had yellow eyes, yellow skin, swollen legs, and ascites, so he took herbal medicine in the hope of nourishing his liver and curing the disease. Each meal, this man drank 1 cup of medicine but kept vomiting. After that, the patient was treated at a hospital near his home, but his fatigue increased and he had a loss of appetite.

Mr. L. was taken to the hospital in Tan Son Hoa ward (Ho Chi Minh City) for emergency treatment in a state of increasing abdominal tension, a more protruding navel, falling into a state of drowsiness, loss of consciousness, and not being aware of his surroundings.

Specialist Doctor Hoang Dinh Thanh - a specialist in gastrointestinal endoscopic surgery (the patient's doctor) said that Mr. L's test results showed that the Procalcitonin (PCT - an index to monitor infection) index was significantly increased at 3.7ng/mL (normally below 0.05ng/mL), suggesting severe sepsis. The index assessed the level of heart failure 7 times higher than normal people. The doctor diagnosed this man with level 3 hepatic coma, sepsis and risk of severe heart failure.

The patient was treated aggressively with measures to reduce ammonia toxicity, control infection and adjust electrolytes. In the critical stage, the doctor prescribed supportive dialysis to remove toxins and improve liver and kidney function.

Dr. Thanh shared that hepatic coma is a condition where the liver is no longer able to eliminate toxins, which will accumulate in the blood and enter the brain. The accumulation of toxins can also damage other organs and nerve functions.

Western medicine, herbal medicine, and tobacco can all contain active ingredients that can treat diseases. However, if the origin, ingredients, dosage, and usage recommendations are unclear, it is difficult to ensure effectiveness and safety.

In particular, people with cirrhosis should not arbitrarily use drugs. A weakened liver is very susceptible to further damage when exposed to unregulated active ingredients or impurities.

In fact, many medicinal herbs can be dried with sulfur or mixed with preservatives to prevent mold. These substances, when entering the body, can cause digestive disorders, damage the liver and kidneys, and even threaten the lives of people with chronic liver disease.

For people with liver disease, Dr. Thanh recommends regular check-ups with a doctor every 3-6 months. If you have symptoms of fatigue, unusually excessive sleep, mood changes, forgetfulness, slurred speech, or “liver-smelling” breath, you should go to the hospital immediately for timely treatment.

According to Vietnamnet

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/nguoi-dan-ong-cap-cuu-vi-uong-1-chen-thuoc-nam-moi-ngay-525550.html