What is Alcoholic Hepatitis?

Alcohol and liver disease have always been strongly inter-related. The word, ‘hepatitis,’ literally refers to a liver inflammation from drinking alcohol. Liver hepatitis is typically caused by viruses. Alcoholic hepatitis is also very common. The most commonly occurring types of this condition in the United States are hepatitis A, B, and C. Heavy use of alcohols, certain toxins, and some medications can result in development of hepatitis.

Typically, alcoholic hepatitis occurs in those that drink excessively over a number of years.  The connection between alcoholic hepatitis and drinking is a complicated one. Not all excessive drinkers will develop the condition. In fact, the disease can even develop in those that moderately drink alcohol.

If you have been diagnosed with this condition, it is essential that you immediately stop consuming alcohol. Continuing to drink can further damage your liver to a point of no repair. Liver failure and cirrhosis can be fatal.

Symptoms of Hepatitis

A large number of hepatitis cases are never diagnosed. This is because this disease can be easily mistaken as the flu. Often, mild alcoholic hepatitis patients will exhibit no symptoms at all. Fairly common alcoholic liver disease symptoms, however, are:

  • Appetite Loss
  • Fatigue
  • Slight fever
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Jaundice – yellowing of skin and whites in eyes
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Mental confusion
  • Pain in abdomen
  • Swelling of abdomen from accumulation of fluid – ascites

Causes of Liver Hepatitis

When your liver gets damaged by the alcohol you’re drinking, hepatitis develops. Basically, the ethanol processing reaction in your body produces chemicals like acetaldehyde which are very toxic. These trigger destruction and inflammation of liver cells. Soon, small tissue bundles begin to replace healthy tissue in your liver, and web-like scars begin to form. This causes liver function to deteriorate.

Risk is multiplied by the amount of time that has passed and the amount of alcohol that has been consumed. Heavy use of alcohol can cause liver conditions. Increasing the amount of alcohol intake damages the liver faster. However, since so many heavy drinkers die a natural death instead of developing liver hepatitis, there are certainly other factors that plays a role in development of liver conditions.These include:

  • Other Kinds of Hepatitis: If your liver has already been damaged by other kinds of hepatitis like hepatitis C, long-term abuse of alcohol can worsen the damage to your liver.
  • Genetic Factors:  Certain genetic mutations can affect metabolism of alcohol and increase risks of developing alcoholic hepatitis and cancers associated with alcohol.
  • Malnutrition: Many heavy alcohol drinkers are malnourished because they often substitute alcohol in place of food. Also, toxic by-products of alcohol prevent their bodies from absorbing & metabolizing nutrients like fats, vitamins, and proteins properly. In either case, the nutrient shortage enhances liver damage.

When to Consult with a Doctor

Immediately get in touch with your doctor if you experience any alcoholic liver disease symptoms. Other than that, if you’ve developed a habit of engaging in uncontrolled drinking or can’t control the amount of alcohol you consume or are worried about your alcohol and liver disease risks, contact your doctor.