Drinking too much alcohol can seriously harm your liver, and this is a big health problem around the world.
The liver is an important organ that helps clean alcohol and other toxins from your body. But when you drink heavily, the liver can become damaged and stop working properly.
Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) happens in stages. The first stage is called alcoholic fatty liver disease. This means fat builds up in the liver cells. It can happen even after a short period of heavy drinking. The good news is that this stage can be reversed if you stop drinking early enough.
If the drinking continues, the liver can become inflamed. This stage is called alcoholic hepatitis. It is not the same as hepatitis caused by viruses. People with alcoholic hepatitis may feel sick, have yellow skin and eyes (called jaundice), feel pain in the stomach, or even vomit. In serious cases, this condition can be life-threatening.
The final stage is cirrhosis. At this point, the liver is badly scarred and has lost much of its ability to work. Cirrhosis usually cannot be reversed, and people with this condition may need a liver transplant. It can lead to liver failure and other dangerous health problems.
There are several signs that may show someone has liver problems caused by alcohol. One early sign is feeling very tired and weak. Jaundice, which is when the skin and eyes turn yellow, is a clear sign that the liver is not working well.
People may also feel pain in their upper right side of the stomach or notice swelling in their belly from fluid buildup. Nausea and a loss of appetite are also common. In later stages, the liver cannot filter out toxins, which can lead to mental confusion. Other signs include red palms and tiny red lines on the skin that look like spider webs, called spider naevi.
The best way to prevent this kind of liver disease is to drink alcohol in moderation or not at all. If someone already has liver damage, stopping alcohol completely is the most important step. Regular check-ups with a doctor can help catch the problem early and keep it from getting worse.
Researchers are still learning more about how alcohol affects the liver and what the best treatments are. Studies show that even people with serious liver damage can get better if they stop drinking in time. This is why it’s important to notice the warning signs and get medical help early.
Alcohol-related liver disease can be very dangerous, but early action can make a big difference. If you or someone you care about drinks heavily and starts to show signs of liver problems, don’t wait. Talk to a doctor and take steps to protect your health.
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.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
