Alcohol abuse is one of the leading causes of liver disease all over the world. It can lead to liver damage and loss of liver function. Such a condition is known as alcoholic liver cirrhosis or alcoholic hepatitis.
Causes of Alcoholic Liver Disease
There’s a wide variety of causes of liver disease out there. Severe alcoholic hepatitis can be caused by binge drinking. If it progresses to an advanced stage, the patient may die. Heavy alcohol drinkers tend to get malnourished since they only consume empty calories in alcohol. The reduced appetite and nutrient malabsorption in intestines can also contribute to the condition.
Other factors that fall under liver disease causes are:
- Genetic Features
- Individual susceptibility to liver disease induced by alcohol; weak alcohol tolerance
- Ethanol being toxic for the liver
Not all heavy drinkers develop alcoholic liver diseases. It is believed that women are more likely to develop it than men. However, it will be interesting to note that not all patients of alcoholic liver disease are drinkers.
Symptoms
Symptoms differ based upon the severity of the condition and specific liver disease causes. Usually, the symptoms experienced by heavy drinkers are worse. The first sign of liver disease in hepatitis is liver inflammation. This leads to cirrhosis and fatty liver. Therefore, liver diseases are much like a chain where one leads to another. The final stage of alcoholic liver disease is cirrhosis. Symptoms often don’t show till advanced stages of the disease. These symptoms may include:
- Nausea
- Appetite Loss
- Jaundice
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Ascites or collection of fluids in abdomen
- Dry mouth
- Confusion and mental instability
- Abdominal tenderness and pain
- Increased thirst
- Unexplained weight gain from collection of fluids
There are a number of other symptoms of this disease. Consult with a doctor to find out more about them in detail.
Exams and Tests
Tests and examinations that can be conducted to diagnose liver disease include CBC (complete blood count), liver biopsy, ALP and other similar tests for liver function. Other tests can also be conducted to eliminate the possibility of particular liver conditions. These tests include CT scans and ultrasounds of the abdomen.
Treating Alcoholic Liver Disease
The most important step towards treating alcoholic liver conditions is stopping alcohol consumption completely. Liver conditions can be treated. Your liver may heal and return to its original healthy state if liver cirrhosis has not occurred yet. You must, however, stop consuming alcohol altogether to do this.
Seek Professional Help
Get in touch with a medical professional if you are experiencing signs of alcoholic liver disease mentioned above or feel sick after prolonged use of alcohol. Heavy drinkers should be particularly vigilant when signs of alcoholic liver disease start to show up. Meet with a medical counselor to discuss your drinking problems if you feel that your habits are imposing detrimental effects on your life. He or she will be able to advise you about safe alcohol consumption limits and how to go about reducing your intake.