(CCTV)
A 46-year-old man in Fushun, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, has been diagnosed as benign symmetric lipomatosis in his neck.
Li Qiuwu, the patient has an abnormally thick neck, similar to that of a hippo. He has difficulty turning his head around and can’t breathe smoothly.
According to Mr. Li, he has been suffering from the disease for nine years. His neck has grown bigger and bigger over the years.
The reason for the disease is over-drinking of alcohol.
Bianchao, an orthopedist in the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region said drinking too much alcohol can increase cholesterol levels and result in an endocrine disturbance and fat deposits in the neck. Most patients like Li have a history of alcoholism.
Li Qiuwu said that he began drink alcohol at the age of 18 and drank at least one kilogram of liquor a day.
“Actually I stopped drinking for one year because I went to hospital and doctors asked me not to drink any more. So my neck was smaller. But things got worse when I started to drink again,” said Li.
Bian said the only solution now was to undergo a liposuction operation, and that Li would recover within a week.
“I will never drink again. It’s really torturous,” said Li Qiuwu.
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