Alcohol-related Liver Disease

With about 500 vital functions, the liver is one of the most complex organs in the human body. Filtering blood pollutants, storing energy, producing hormones and proteins, and regulating cholesterol and blood sugar are just a few of these functions.

Damage to the liver has the potential to harm the entire body. Damage to the liver can take a long time to manifest because the liver is normally very good at regenerating and mending itself. Often, the harm is permanent by the time it is discovered.

Damage to the liver from years of excessive drinking causes alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD). Alcohol misuse can cause the liver to swell and become inflamed over time. Cirrhosis is a scarring condition caused by liver injury. Cirrhosis is the most advanced form of liver disease.

Excessive alcohol use has a number of negative repercussions, including liver damage. This is particularly dangerous because liver failure is deadly.

Symptoms

Early indications of alcoholic liver damage are hazy and impact a variety of physiological systems.

Signs can include: Along with an overall feeling of being ill,

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Decreased appetite
  • Diarrhea 
  • Pain in the abdomen

Early symptoms are easy to dismiss as the result of a stomach illness or a general malaise. However, keeping these symptoms undetected and untreated, particularly if you continue to drink alcohol, might hasten the advancement of liver disease.

The symptoms of the alcoholic liver disease become more obvious as the disease advances.

Alcohol-related Liver Disease

The following are some of the more noticeable indications of advanced liver disease:

  • Swelling in the legs and abdomen
  • Abdominal pain
  • Weight loss
  • Increased thirst
  • Darkening or lightening of skin
  • Red hands or feet
  • Unusual agitation
  • Mood swings
  • Bleeding gums
  • Dark bowel movements
  • Fainting
  • Enlarged breast (in men)
  • Itchy skin
  • Fever and shivering

When symptoms appear, the problem has progressed to an advanced stage and seeing a doctor is a must.

Causes

Liver damage does not occur in all heavy drinkers on a regular basis. It's unclear why some people get the alcoholic liver disease while others do not.

Acetaldehyde is a harmful molecule created when alcohol is broken down in the body. It harms the liver, resulting in scarring and inflammation

Some persons appear to be more affected by this chemical than others.

Drinking too much alcohol causes alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD). The more you drink in excess of the recommended amounts, the more likely you are to develop ARLD.

There are two ways that excessive alcohol consumption (drinking) might lead to ARLD

These are the following:

Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short period of time (binge drinking) can lead to fatty liver disease and, less commonly, alcoholic hepatitis. 

Drinking a lot of alcohol over a long period of time can lead to hepatitis and cirrhosis, the more serious types of ARLD.

Diagnosis

When tests for other medical disorders reveal a damaged liver, alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) is frequently suspected.

This is due to the fact that the illness has few visible symptoms in its early stages.

If your doctor suspects you have ARLD, they'll likely order a blood test to see how well your liver is functioning. They may also inquire about your drinking habits.

Your doctor may ask for:

  • Blood test
  • Imaging test

It's possible that you'll need scans to get a clear picture of your liver.

This could involve the following:

➔ an ultrasound examination

➔ an X-ray

➔ an MRI examination

Some scans can also detect liver stiffness, which is an excellent indicator of whether or not your liver is scarred.

Liver biopsy

The biopsy is typically performed under local anesthesia as a day case or with an overnight stay in the hospital.

The extent of scarring in your liver and the origin of the injury will be determined by examining your liver tissue.

Endoscopy

The tool is passed down your esophagus and into your stomach during an endoscopy.

Images of your esophagus and stomach are sent to a monitor outside of your body. Swollen veins, which are an indication of cirrhosis, will be examined by the doctor.

Treatment

Treatment for alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) is generally dependent on a person's willingness to give up alcohol and adjust their lifestyle.

Stop drinking alcohol

Stopping drinking alcohol is part of the treatment for ARLD. This is called abstinence, and it can be crucial depending on the stage of the disease.

If you have a more serious form of ARLD (alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis), you should abstain from alcohol for the rest of your life.

This is because the only way to prevent your liver damage from worsening and maybe death from liver disease is to stop drinking.

Many people who are addicted to alcohol discover that attending self-help groups can help them stop drinking.

Diet and nutrition

Malnutrition is common in people with ARLD, therefore eating a well-balanced diet is critical to getting all of the nutrients you require.

Avoiding salty foods and not adding salt to your diet will lower your risk of experiencing fluid-related edema in your legs, foot, and stomach.

Liver transplant

The liver loses its ability to function in the most severe forms of ARLD, resulting in liver failure.

The only option to reverse irreversible liver failure is to have a liver transplant.

Medications

The use of medicines to treat ARLD directly is debatable. Many specialists claim that there is insufficient evidence to support its effectiveness.

Hospitalization may be required for persons with severe alcoholic hepatitis.

In some persons with this illness, specific treatment with corticosteroids or pentoxifylline medicine may be utilized to minimize liver inflammation.

Complications 

If you have alcohol-related liver disease, you may develop a number of significant problems (ARLD). ARLD complications can include:

  • Scarring of the liver for the rest of one's life and loss of function
  • Esophageal variceal hemorrhage i.e enlarged veins in the esophagus that develops in people who have liver disease
  • High blood pressure in the liver's blood arteries
  • Toxic accumulation in the blood causes a loss of brain function
  • Liver cancer
  • Infection