Drinking too much alcohol can seriously harm your liver. This is a growing health problem around the world. The liver is a very important organ.
It helps break down alcohol in your body. But if you drink too much or too often, your liver can get damaged over time.
When alcohol is broken down in the liver, it creates harmful chemicals. These can hurt liver cells. If this happens again and again, the liver may become inflamed, full of fat, or even scarred. This kind of damage is called alcohol-related liver disease, or ARLD. It can lead to liver failure or cancer if not treated.
There are three main stages of ARLD. The first stage is called alcoholic fatty liver disease. At this point, fat builds up in the liver. This can happen even after only a short time of heavy drinking. The good news is, this stage is often reversible if you stop drinking.
The second stage is alcoholic hepatitis. This means the liver is inflamed. It’s not caused by a virus but by alcohol. Some people have mild symptoms, but others can become very sick. Signs may include yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), belly pain, feeling sick, or throwing up. In some cases, this can be life-threatening.
The third and most serious stage is cirrhosis. At this point, the liver has a lot of scarring and can no longer work properly. Cirrhosis can’t be cured, and it may lead to liver failure or the need for a transplant.
Many symptoms can show that the liver is in trouble. These include feeling tired and weak all the time, or losing your appetite. Jaundice is a common sign. So is pain or swelling in the belly.
Some people feel confused or have trouble thinking clearly because the liver can’t remove toxins from the blood. Other signs include red palms and tiny red veins on the skin, called spider naevi.
To avoid ARLD, the best choice is to drink less alcohol—or none at all. If someone already has liver problems, quitting alcohol is one of the most important steps they can take to stop the damage from getting worse.
Seeing a doctor regularly helps catch liver problems early. This is especially important for people who drink often or have other risks for liver disease.
Research shows that even people with serious liver damage can get better if they stop drinking. That’s why it’s so important to notice the signs early and get help.
Alcohol-related liver disease is dangerous, but it can often be prevented. If you or someone you know has been drinking a lot and starts feeling sick, tired, or notices changes in their skin or belly, talk to a doctor. Getting help early could save a life.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about simple habit that could give you a healthy liver, and common diabetes drug that may reverse liver inflammation.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about simple blood test that could detect your risk of fatty liver disease, and results showing this green diet may strongly lower non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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