Liver Damage Caused by Excessive Drinking
There are several health issues associated with excessive drinking. One of the most common is alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD). Liver disease caused by alcohol occurs in “10 to 15 percent” of Americans who drink heavily according to Healthline. There are three stages of ARLD:
- Alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Acute alcoholic hepatitis
- Alcoholic cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is the final state of liver disease and can be deadly. The symptoms differ depending on the stage of liver disease. Unfortunately, “some people with ARLD don’t have symptoms until the disease is advanced.”
In the early stage of ARLD also referred to as alcoholic liver disease (ALD), alcoholic fatty liver disease, the damage to the liver may be reversible with abstinence and according to the Cleveland Clinic the prognosis for recovery is good. As a person progresses to the next stage of the disease, acute alcoholic hepatitis the prognosis for recovery becomes variable as does the potential to reverse any damage done to the liver. Liver disease caused by alcohol, particularly at the later stages “occurs with the consumption of a large quantity of alcohol over a prolonged period.”
Symptoms of alcohol-related liver disease are varied and can include fever, jaundice, confusion, anemia, and testicular atrophy. The primary treatment for liver disease related to excessive drinking is abstinence. If caught in the early stages of the disease, full recovery may be possible. If the disease has advanced to alcoholic cirrhosis, the damage may not be reversible and could require a liver transplant. In some cases, cirrhosis of the liver may be fatal.
Excessive drinking over a prolonged period can not only lead to liver disease but a number of other short- and long-term health concerns. It is important to seek treatment immediately if you believe you are suffering from a substance use disorder.