Human Liver is a very crucial organ and is the second-largest organ in the body after skin, if we consider skin as an organ. It is situated on the right side, upper abdominal area, in contact with diaphragm. Its mass is divided into two lobes in Human but, the number and size of which vary among species. Well at least we know that Liver is an important organ of body, that's why when we think about alcohol, Liver comes with it. We will now discuss how Alcohol affects liver, metabolic factory of the body?
The liver is very resilient and capable of regenerating itself. Each time your liver filters alcohol, some liver cells die. The liver can develop new cells, but prolonged alcohol misuse (drinking too much) over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate. This can result in serious and irreversible damage to your liver.
Alcoholic Hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that lasts one to two weeks. It is believed to lead to alcoholic cirrhosis over a period of years. Symptoms include of alcoholic hepatitis include:
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain and tenderness
Fever
Jaundice
Mental confusion
When this develops, it may be the first time a person is aware they're damaging their liver through alcohol. Less commonly, alcoholic hepatitis can occur if you drink a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time (binge-drinking). The liver damage associated with mild alcoholic hepatitis is usually reversible if you stop drinking permanently. Severe alcoholic hepatitis, however, is a serious and life-threatening illness. Many people die from the condition each year, and some people only find out they have liver damage when their condition reaches this stage.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a stage of disease where the liver has become significantly scarred. Even at this stage, there may not be any obvious sign. It's generally not reversible, but stopping drinking alcohol immediately can prevent further damage and significantly increase your life expectancy. A person who has alcohol-related cirrhosis and does not stop drinking has a less than 50% chance of living for at least 5 more years. Symptoms include of cirrhosis include:
Fatigue.
Loss of appetite and Nausea.
Swelling in your legs, feet.
Weight degradation.
Rashes on skin.
Yellow discoloration in the skin and eyes (jaundice)
Most people who develop cirrhosis and liver failure don't notice symptoms until it’s too late.
Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat builds up in the liver. Alcoholic fatty liver disease is due to heavy alcohol use. Your liver breaks down the alcohol you drink, so it can be removed from the body. But the process of breaking it down generate harmful substances. These substances damage liver cells, promote inflammation, and weaken your body's natural defenses. The more alcohol that you consume, the more you damage your liver. Alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease. The next stages can be alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease are generally silent diseases with few or no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may feel tired or have discomfort in the upper right side of your abdomen.
If Alcohol use disorder(AUD) is not treated, it can increase your risk for serious health problems, even death. After completing treatment for AUD, it’s possible to have a risk of relapse. It’s important to recognize warning signs and seek help if you’re concerned about having a relapse. Continued therapy and support could minimize the risk.
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