Although 90% of people who drink heavily develop fatty liver disease, only 20% to 40% will go on to develop alcoholic hepatitis. If you stop drinking alcohol in the early stages of liver disease and your liver recovers, your life expectancy may be normal. Once you have cirrhosis, your life expectancy is generally two to 15 years from diagnosis. If warning signs appear — jaundice, confusion, vomiting blood, severe pain, rapidly increasing belly swelling — go to the emergency department. These signs can mean severe alcoholic hepatitis, bleeding, infection, or liver failure. For people who have alcohol-related fatty liver disease, abstaining from alcohol is the principal—and usually only—treatment.
What are the common symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis?
Patients often report a history of intake of at least 30 to 50 g alcohol/day though over 100 g/day is common. Other signs and symptoms include fever, ascites (SAAG greater than 1.1), and proximal muscle loss. Patients presenting with severe alcoholic hepatitis may have encephalopathy. The first stage of alcoholic liver disease is hepatic steatosis, which involves the accumulation of small fat droplets under liver cells approaching the portal tracts. More advanced disease is characterized by marked steatosis, hepatocellular necrosis, and acute inflammation, known as alcoholic hepatitis. There is a need for more effective treatment of alcoholic liver disease as the severe form of the disease is life-threatening.
What happens after you stop drinking?
The final and most severe stage is cirrhosis, where healthy liver tissue is replaced by permanent scar tissue, a process called fibrosis. This scarring impairs the liver’s structure and its ability to function. Cirrhosis is not reversible, though stopping alcohol consumption can prevent further damage and improve life expectancy. This extensive damage can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition. If the inflammation becomes severe enough to cause jaundice, and in some cases acute liver failure, the condition is called alcoholic hepatitis.
Itchy Skin (Unexplained)
We have centers in Ohio (Bluffs), Massachusetts (Swift River), and Texas (Texas Recovery Center). If you suspect you or someone you know may have alcoholic liver disease, it is crucial to seek medical attention for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management. Treatment for ALD involves stopping alcohol consumption, managing symptoms, and addressing any complications that may arise. Supportive care, lifestyle modifications, and medical interventions may be necessary, depending signs of alcoholic liver disease on the severity of the disease. The treatment of alcohol hepatitis varies based on the severity of liver injury but invariably involves quitting alcohol.
A standard alcoholic drink contains about 14 grams (g) of pure alcohol. Research shows that in many cases, people with alcohol-related cirrhosis have a history of drinking between 30 to 50 g (about 2 to 3 drinks) and 100 g (7 drinks) daily or more. Damage from prolonged alcohol misuse can lead to alcohol-related cirrhosis. When the liver tissue starts to scar, the liver doesn’t work as well as before. As a result, the body can’t produce enough proteins or filter toxins out of the blood as it should.
The liver is an organ that sits just under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen. The liver is needed to help digest food, rid the body of waste products and make substances, called clotting factors, that keep the blood flowing well, among other tasks. Moderate alcohol consumption for women means that no more than one Drug rehabilitation alcoholic beverage is consumed each day. Moderate alcohol consumption for men means that no more than two alcoholic beverages are consumed each day. Each stage represents a worsening of liver health, and if left untreated, can lead to life-threatening complications.
Signs of Liver Damage from Alcohol
Drinking heavily for even a week may cause fatty liver disease, but it is reversible at this stage if drinkers abstain from alcohol thereafter. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms at this stage, so people may not know that they are endangering their system. All health professionals must coordinate their actions to improve the management of the patient with severe alcohol addiction, which is responsible for alcoholic liver disease. Psychologists and psychiatrists must be asked by clinicians to assess the psychological state of patients to determine the origin of alcohol intoxication (depression, post-traumatic shock). Liver transplantation could be a consideration for patients not responding to steroids and with a MELD of greater than 26.
- During the physical exam, the doctor will feel the abdomen to assess the size and tenderness of the liver.
- A large organ, it performs many functions essential for good health.
- This condition, known as hepatomegaly (liver) or splenomegaly (spleen), arises from chronic alcohol consumption and other liver-related disorders.
Questions people ask most often
Some uncommon symptoms of liver damage include red palms and blotchy skin patterns together with easy bruising and skin itching. Other substances besides alcohol also can inflame and damage the liver. This is called toxic hepatitis, which may result from certain medicines, herbal supplements or poisons. Alcoholic hepatitis is sometimes grouped under the broader category of toxic hepatitis, but most experts consider it a distinct condition caused specifically by alcohol. Understanding the signs of liver damage early can help you prevent further damage. Cirrhosis is considered end stage liver disease as it cannot be reversed and can lead to liver failure.
Diagnosis and Medical Evaluation
- Depending upon the findings of these tests, additional diagnostic testing may be required to determine the extent of liver damage that is present.
- Antirejection medications after transplant can increase the risk of serious infections and certain cancers.
- High consumption translates to over 40 grams (g) of alcohol per day in females and over 50 g of alcohol per day in males (with one standard drink equaling 14 g).
- The symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis are similar to other forms of hepatitis, including fatigue, nausea, upper-right abdominal pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
This means scar tissue forms in the liver, making it hard for the liver to heal and work right. Drinking a lot of alcohol makes these problems get even worse. If you see any of these signs, don’t wait to see a doctor. It’s very important to act quickly if you notice liver health issues.
Abstaining from alcohol from this point may reverse this condition. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) develops over time and can progress from mild fatty liver to severe cirrhosis if left untreated. The good news is that early detection with a liver biopsy can make a big difference. Your liver is one of the most hardworking organs in your body. However, excessive alcohol consumption can take a significant toll on its health.