The liver is an organ that is vital to the human body. Without a healthy, functioning liver the human body can only last up to 24 hours. It is responsible for detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion.

Diseases like liver fibrosis, a fatty liver or a liver injury can cause acute liver failure that can result in death, yet one disease that is preventable is the alcoholic liver disease. Since the liver is the body’s filtering system, excessive alcohol intake can cause severe damage. In this article, we’ll examine how alcohol affects this vital organ and how a damaged liver can be treated.

Alcoholic liver disease usually occurs after years of excessive drinking. The longer the alcohol use goes on and the more alcohol that is consumed, the greater the likelihood of developing an alcoholic liver. Acute alcoholic hepatitis can result from binge drinking. It may be life-threatening if severe. People who drink excessively can become malnourished because of the empty calories from alcohol, reduced appetite, and poor absorption of nutrients in the intestines.

Factors such as genetics, personal susceptibility to alcohol-induced liver disease, and the toxicity of alcohol (ethanol) to the liver all impact the chances of developing liver disease. Women may be more susceptible than men, and it is not necessary to get drunk for the disease to develop.

The symptoms of liver disease due to alcohol can vary according to the individual. Changes start in the liver as inflammation (hepatitis) and lead to fatty liver and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the final phase of alcoholic liver disease.

Symptoms may not be present until the disease is advanced, and may include abdominal pain and tenderness, dry mouth and excessive thirst, fatigue, fever, jaundice, loss of appetite, mental confusion and nausea. Some patients also exhibit abnormally dark or light skin, dark bowel movements, breast development in males, redness on feet or hands and lethargic movement. Symptoms vary based on the severity of the disease and usually worsens after a period of heavy drinking.

Things to remember:

• Studies have shown that moderate consumption of alcohol has healthy benefits to the body.
• Alcoholic liver disease usually occurs after years of excessive drinking.
• Alcoholism is as much a disease as an alcoholic liver is and requires treatment.

Early recognition is important since an alcoholic fatty liver responds to alcohol withdrawal and a nutritious diet. Patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis should be admitted to hospital and complications of liver failure treated appropriately. These patients usually have significant metabolic abnormalities that have to be corrected.

Hyperglycemia is a common manifestation of chronic liver disease because of insulin resistance. Cirrhosis is an irreversible process, and therapy is directed at the complications of liver failure and portal hypertension. An organ transplant is a treatment option for patients with end-stage alcoholic cirrhosis. However, liver transplantation is a reasonable option in patients with alcoholic liver disease providing there is prolonged abstinence (at least six months), good social supports and no evidence of severe damage to other organs due to alcoholism.

It’s extremely important to recognize that the first step in treatment is giving up alcohol. As with any addiction, medical and social support are critical. Patients suffering from an alcoholic liver are encouraged to join support groups and take medication that minimizes the side effects of alcohol withdrawal. Abstinence from alcohol combined with a nutritious diet has proven to greatly improve the overall health of patients.

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Tags: Alcoholism //