|
 The
liver is a very important organ in the body with many responsibilities.
It is also tough - and able to withstand quite a beating. However,
one of the few opponents that manage to affect the liver is alcohol.
One
of the main functions of the liver is to process the things we take
into our bodies. This includes the food we eat, the medications
we take, and the alcohol we drink. When we take in too much of a
substance, the liver may get overloaded and inflamed, just as a
muscle gets inflamed from overuse.
How
does drinking alcohol affect the liver?
Alcohol
is one of the most common reasons for the liver to become inflamed
and damaged, and it is the number one cause of liver-related deaths
in the US and the most common cause of cirrhosis.
| One
serving of alcohol equals: |
12
ounces of regular beer,
4 ounces of wine, OR
1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor |
|
In
the early stages of alcohol damage to the liver, the normal tissue
of the liver becomes filled with fat. The deposits of fat occur
because of a chemical imbalance in the liver due to chronic alcohol
consumption. This often increases the size of the liver and may
cause abdominal pain in the upper right side of the abdomen under
the rib cage, the location of the liver. This pain is often the
only symptom of alcohol-induced fatty liver and may not be present.
Usually,
a person has to drink more than two or three servings of alcohol
a day to develop a fatty liver. Women develop alcohol-induced liver
damage with lower quantities of alcohol intake than men due to their
weight and metabolic differences. The duration and exact amount
of alcohol required to cause liver damage varies widely from one
person to the next, but fatty liver can develop in as little as
three months with moderate to heavy alcohol intake.
A
diagnosis of fatty liver is suspected whenever a person drinks alcohol
and their liver is noted to be enlarged or tender during a physical
examination. Blood tests can reveal a fairly specific increase in
certain liver enzymes found in the blood when alcohol-induced fatty
liver is present. In rare circumstances, a special x-ray study such
as an ultrasound is obtained to confirm the diagnosis or rule out
other liver diseases.
What
happens if the drinking continues?
Fatty
liver is the earliest form of liver disease that can be recognized.
If an affected person continues to drink, there is a fairly good
chance that they will go on to develop worsening fatty liver and
alcohol-induced hepatitis
(severe inflammation of the liver caused by excessive drinking).
Alcoholic hepatitis is the last stage of liver damage before cirrhosis
of the liver occurs. Usually, it takes at least ten years of almost
daily alcohol consumption of at least two drinks per day to cause
cirrhosis.
What
happens if the drinking stops?
The
good news about alcohol-induced fatty liver is that it is fully
reversible when a person stops drinking. As mentioned previously,
the liver is a tough organ. If given the chance the liver will generally
restore itself to normal before the serious, irreversible changes
of cirrhosis occur. Thus, the treatment of fatty liver from alcohol
is straightforward the person must stop drinking.
This,
of course, is often easier said than done. Those who develop alcoholic
fatty liver often have an addiction to alcohol. But it is imperative
to stop drinking, and maximal resources must be used in an attempt
to get the person to stop drinking. This includes family intervention,
supportive peer groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, strict rehabilitation
programs that may require an inpatient stay, and possibility even
medications that make the person sick if they drink alcohol.
Alcohol-induced
fatty liver is a condition that develops when the liver becomes
exhausted by excessive alcohol abuse. This disorder is the liver's
way of telling the affected person that it is now time to quit drinking
before more serious problems occur. Alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis,
liver cancer, and death may all occur if these warning signs are
ignored. Don't let alcohol turn your liver into a flabby wimp!
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