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![How to repair liver damage from Alcohol How to repair liver damage from Alcohol](https://www.medicoverhospitals.in/images/articles/how-to-repair-liver-damage-from-alcohol.webp)
How Does Alcohol Affect the Liver?
Alcohol can cause long-term impairment and damage to the liver, particularly in individuals who consume alcohol over extended periods or in large quantities. The damage progresses through several stages of alcohol liver diseases:
-
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) :
- Fat accumulates in the liver
- Reversible with lifestyle changes
-
Alcoholic Hepatitis :
- Inflammation and irritation of the liver
- It can lead to irreversible scarring (cirrhosis)
-
Cirrhosis
- Extensive scarring of the liver
- Irreversible and potentially fatal
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD)
AFLD is the initial stage of liver disease, where fat accumulates in liver cells, leading to potential damage. Approximately 20% of heavy drinkers develop AFLD.
Types of Fatty Liver Disease
-
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) :
- Not directly linked to alcohol
- Doctors are currently not sure of what causes this condition
- Although NAFLD is mild, it can progress in some people
- Check with your doctor regarding whether moderate drinking is fine
- Heavy drinking should be avoided
-
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease :
- Directly caused by alcohol consumption
- Here, the liver starts to build too much fat
- Fat accumulates in liver cells, preventing fat removal
- All extra fat accumulated will damage the liver
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Get A Second OpinionWhat are the Signs and Symptoms of AFLD?
Unfortunately, AFLD has a few symptoms that include;
- Fatigue
- Discomfort in the upper right abdomen
- Yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)
Diagnosing AFLD
- Diagnosing AFLD in its early stages can be challenging due to the lack of symptoms.
- The disease is often detected incidentally during imaging tests or through blood tests that indicate liver chemical imbalances.
- In some cases, alcoholic fatty liver disease remains undiagnosed until it advances to a more severe condition, such as cirrhosis.
Treatment of AFLD
The AFLD treatment relies on lifestyle changes that include;
- Quitting alcohol consumption
- Adopt a healthy diet
- Reduce weight if you are overweight
- Exercise regularly
Practices that prevent the Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease series conditions are;
- Get vaccinated against hepatitis A, B, pneumonia, and flu
- Consult a doctor before taking supplements, vitamins or herbs
What is Alcoholic Hepatitis?
Alcoholic hepatitis is a liver inflammation caused by extensive alcohol use; disrupting liver functions can lead to distressing and deadly symptoms.
Symptoms & Causes of Alcoholic Hepatitis
- Confusion due to toxin ammonia buildup
- Abdominal swelling due to albumin protein deficiency
- Severe bleeding from insufficient clotting proteins
- Throat bleeding from weakened vessels
- Jaundice indicates other liver issues
Scientists are not entirely sure what aspect of alcohol causes alcoholic hepatitis, but heavy alcohol use is a significant factor. If alcohol use is discontinued, the inflammation from alcoholic hepatitis may eventually go completely.
Risk Factors of Alcoholic Hepatitis
When alcohol misuse is combined with the below factors, there is a risk of developing alcoholic hepatitis;
- Poor nutrition
- Immune system disorders
- Viral infections (hepatitis B or C)
- Prolonged use of Tylenol
- Age over 55
- Female gender
- Obesity
How is Alcoholic Hepatitis Treated?
General lifestyle changes treat Alcoholic Hepatitis like;
- Stop alcohol use to reduce inflammation.
- Use steroids to reduce inflammation. They also suppress the immune system.
- Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
Unfortunately, inflammation can cause scarring, known as alcoholic cirrhosis. This scarring is irreversible and results in permanent, long-term effects.
What is Cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis replaces the healthy liver tissue with scar tissue. The more one drinks, the more scar tissue develops, which leads to alcoholic cirrhosis.
Causes and Symptoms of Alcoholic Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis shows a range of symptoms, from irritating to potentially deadly. Jaundice and increased bleeding and swelling are the most serious symptoms among them.
- Excessive, long-term alcohol consumption
- Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Increased bleeding and bruising
- Swelling in the abdomen, feet, legs, or ankles (ascites)
Other common symptoms of Alcoholic Cirrhosis are:
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Muscle atrophy
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Upper right abdomen pain
- Visible blood vessels
- Itchy skin
- Hair loss
- Fever
Treating Alcoholic Cirrhosis
The scarring caused by cirrhosis is typically irreversible and worsens with continued alcohol consumption. Stopping alcohol use is crucial to halting the progression of alcoholic cirrhosis.
Key steps in managing alcoholic cirrhosis include:
- Treating Underlying Conditions: Address any liver-affecting diseases, such as hepatitis or autoimmune disorders, which can exacerbate cirrhosis.
- Diet and Exercise: To optimize remaining liver function, follow a high-protein, high-calorie diet and maintain a healthy exercise routine.
- Managing Complications: As cirrhosis cannot be reversed, it's important to treat its complications as they arise.
The liver transplantation is the only way to recover from alcoholic cirrhosis fully. However, this option is not readily available to everyone.
How Liver Damage from Alcohol is Repaired?
Several things help to reverse the effects of alcohol on the liver:
- Stop Drinking: Seek an alcohol detox program if experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
-
Adopt Healthy Lifestyle Changes:
- Avoid smoking and maintain a healthy weight.
- Follow a healthy diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Be Mindful of Medications: Avoid excessive use of medications harmful to the liver (e.g., acetaminophen).
- Avoid Unnecessary Toxins: Avoid illicit drugs and take precautions with chemicals.
What is the Healing Time for the Liver?
The liver can heal from AFLD and hepatitis over time, but cirrhosis scars are irreversible. Hence, recovery time always depends on the extent of damage and alcohol consumption habits. For heavy drinkers, it might take months or even years to recover.
Treatment for Alcohol Abuse and Addiction
Healthy Life Recovery offers support for overcoming alcohol addiction. All know recovery from alcohol consumption is not easy. At Medicover Hospitals, we help in easing withdrawal symptoms and provide medicated-assisted treatment. Contact us for assistance in leading a healthy and sober life.
Ready to take control of your health journey? Book your appointment now and start your path towards wellness today!
Book an AppointmentFrequently Asked Questions
Symptoms of liver damage from alcohol include jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, swelling, nausea, and confusion.
Foods good for repairing liver damage include leafy greens, berries, nuts, fatty fish, and garlic.
Medications like corticosteroids and certain antioxidants can help, but the primary treatment is abstinence from alcohol and managing symptoms.
Recovery time varies; mild damage can take a few weeks to months, while severe damage may take years or be irreversible.
Lifestyle changes include quitting alcohol, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, staying hydrated, and avoiding other liver toxins like certain medications and illicit drugs.
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