Liver Damage

It is well known that excessive drinking can lead to liver damage. The three main stages in increasing order of severity are fatty liver, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. A fatty liver is one in which there are deposits of fat which leads to an enlarged liver. Abstinence from alcohol at this stage can lead to a full recovery. By the stage of fibrosis, there is permanent scar tissue; cirrhosis is when liver cells have been destroyed and the damage is irreversible.

Signs of Liver Damage

The signs of liver damage can be as follows: the stomach may swell with fluid; there can be bleeding into the gut which can cause vomiting of blood which can be fatal; and the skin and eyes can go yellow (alcoholic hepatitis) which can also be fatal. Obviously these three symptoms are not mutually exclusive and a combination may occur.

The onset of these symptoms can be quite sudden because the liver has spare capacity (it is a vital organ in the body). Initial damage can therefore be unobtrusive. When the reserves are all used up there is sudden deterioration (like a car running smoothly on its reserve tank of petrol but when it runs out it very quickly splutters and dies).

Liver Problems are Growing

The incidence of admission to hospital due to liver problems is growing. Death from alcoholic hepatitis have increased 7 fold in young people since the 1970s and 800 people in the UK (500 men and 300 women) under the age of 44 died of alcoholic hepatitis last year. More than four times as many people died from alcoholic hepatitis in theUKeach year than die from heroin, cocaine and ecstasy combined.

High Death Rate

Part the reason for the high death rate is, as noted earlier, the onset of liver failure is very sudden and severe. There are few warning signs. Problems are caused by the scarring on the liver squeezing the blood vessels which raises the pressure in the veins of the gullet, which burst, causing massive internal bleeding. Medics will try and stop the bleeding by injecting the vessels to block them, by putting bands around them or by using a balloon to press on them. Often though, as they stop one bleed, another will occur. They might try to drain off the bleeding through a tube put through the liver, but often that are fighting a losing battle.

Fluid around the liver can also build up and need draining. And the damage done to the liver will mean it cannot deal with all the toxins in the body, which can lead to damage to memory and the brain. This can be permanent.

Liver can Regenerate

If you have liver problems induced by drinking, and you survive these problems, the good news is that if you stop drinking completely, the liver may regenerate sufficient to get by and you may recover. At this point cutting down is not an option – the only answer is total abstinence. Most people who have drunk to this extent will need some form of psychological help and support to ensure that they can cope without alcohol, as it is likely that they have been using it for reasons other than for social purposes.

The Haynes Clinic is an alcohol, drug and gambling rehab clinic which offers detox and counselling for people with addictions.

Call 01462 851414 for free and confidential advice.

 

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