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“It is easier to stay out than get out.” - Mark Twain (American Author)
Alcohol is a time-tested curse that has wrecked countless lives. Addiction to alcohol has left several brilliant lives desolate and destroyed many a promising career.
Since time immemorial, man has been hooked to substances that lend him a “high” and, alcohol is just one of the many intoxicants available to him.
Serving alcohol has been an important part of many social occasions and rituals. In fact alcohol consumption has become a social norm in various communities. The transition of an occasional drinker becoming an excessive drinker, and then eventually becoming an alcohol-dependent can be gradual. It is precisely for all these reasons that the ill effects of alcohol are ignored until the symptoms get too overwhelming.
Today alcohol consumption is one of the most serious public health issues, not just in the developed and affluent countries but also poorer nations.
Liver is a vital organ and performs several roles. Two important functions include producing proteins that help the blood to clot and removing body wastes. The liver also regulates the supply of substances such as glucose throughout the body. In order to perform these functions the liver cells must function normally.
Alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction is distinctively linked to alcoholic liver disease, a condition in which the liver is permanently damaged due to excessive drinking.
Initial changes to the liver include swelling and inflammation (hepatitis). This may soon be followed by cirrhosis, when the morphology of the liver cells becomes abnormal--they become scarred and fibrosed. Most abnormal cells begin to die and the remaining abnormal ones multiply in order to overcome the shortage. This results in nodules. The scarring of the abnormal liver interferes severely with the liver’s basic function.
Alcohol abuse may not cause liver disease in all alcoholics but it certainly predisposes them to the condition. Non-alcoholics too may develop chronic liver disease. Women appear to be more susceptible to the condition than men.
Alcoholism is also associated with a series of other illnesses, medical conditions or problems that can be physical, psychological, social, criminal or economical in nature.
What is New in Alcoholic Liver Disease?
Patients with alcohol-related liver cancer do not live as long as patients with liver cancer that is not associated with alcohol consumption, a new study suggests. The findings suggest that patients with alcohol-related liver cancer have a reduced overall survival time mainly due to worse liver function and tumor characteristics at diagnosis.
Read more >
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Dr. Reeja Tharu. (2018, March 31). Alcoholic Liver Disease - Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment FAQs. Medindia. Retrieved on Oct 03, 2023 from https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/alcoholicliverdisease.htm.
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Dr. Reeja Tharu. 2018. Alcoholic Liver Disease - Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment FAQs. Medindia, viewed Oct 03, 2023, https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/alcoholicliverdisease.htm.
Latest Publications and Research on Alcoholic Liver Disease
- Prognostic value of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the elderly patients. - Published by PubMed
- Impact of using different biomarkers of liver fibrosis on hepatologic referral of individuals with severe obesity and NAFLD. - Published by PubMed
- Lack of Association between Pretransplant Donor-Specific Antibodies and Posttransplant Kidney Outcomes in Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplant Recipients with Rabbit Anti-Thymocyte Globulin Induction and Steroid-Free Protocol. - Published by PubMed
- Iron-induced derangement in hepatic ?-5 and ?-6 desaturation capacity and fatty acid profile leading to steatosis: Impact on extrahepatic tissues and prevention by antioxidant-rich extra virgin olive oil. - Published by PubMed
- Complications, morbidity and mortality of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. - Published by PubMed
Informative and gratifying article. I think the ratio of Liver problem increasing rapidly in youngster due to alcohol. Wade Asset Management Group
Alcoholism is dangerous and it not only harms the liver, it can also lead to various other physical and mental problems. Too much of anything is bad....
im 29 years old with advanced liver disease due to alcohol..i do not drink daily maybe my body just dont have the ability to eliminate it. im from a country that liver transplant is so expensive i don't have the money to buy medications so im not taking any,im still working even its very hard for me. i work in a ship as a seaman. what disappointing me is every year i have 2 medical check up but all of my results are ok they don't have any idea that i have this disease until last year according to my x ray and ct scan my liver is swollen so i stop drinking immediately. i dont know what to do now if i found out earlier i should have stop drinking earlier its to late for me now.i think my kidneys are failing the only symptoms i have is itching and tingling in my feet forgetfulness and confusion,slurred speech sometimes..you are lucky people your government supported you in this horrid disease..the only thing i can do now is to make my suffering short you know what i mean..every night im looking to the stars that maybe some little help falling from above and that i think its not gonna happen.. is there somebody can give me advice on this ****..coz i really dont know what to do.
hi, please do not mind my english.i had the liver alcohol for 2years.i drink alot of alcohol before untill,i had a fever and liver pains the doctor said i should chack my liver which is called l.f.t .so after the test the doctor discover all is not will.is abnormal for all{ALT} {AST} {GGT }{ALP} {ALB}it means my liver is not working will.i had a treatment in china for 2years nothing ,even the doctor is tired of me so i stop going there ,i think i will die ,because i send 4320usd for 2year i don't have money to spend any more.i start pray to god to save me.i stop taking alcohol for long,decide to stop eating oil food,fats,egg,bread,fride food and i stop eating fresh food such like fish,meats e.t.c i worriy so much even my stomach is pain me but i hope one day god will hear me .i start cooking my own food without oil,i useing dry things like dry fish ,fresh vegetables,onions,carrots,with maggi, creyfish,white rice,everyday one type of food and i drinking alot of water each 30mins,,i eat alot of fruits like apples,mango,popo,grape e.t.c i don't takeing oranges because i had a stomach pains.i drinking[ vitamin B complx ]and folic acid ]i giving my self alot of rest to help my liver to be strong.i stop to eat too much ,i eat alittle even if i hungry i eat alittle for 3months,believe me i want to test yesterday after my test the result is normal,i don't believe it, i want to another test is normal .my stomach is not paining me again i feeling good now for one week .the liver can healing by it self,i said to myself in is life again i will never drink alcohol even to make a friend that takes it never,care your health my friend i can help you to tell thanks
Hello I read your comments on your health problem. I am going through the same thing with a friend here in California, I can't comment on your stage of health but my friends only got 2 or 3 weeks left. The Dr says the liver does not heal it self. His stomach has to be drained every 2 day's He is now turning very yellow. I wish you the best and may God help you back to total health.
hi, please do not mind my english.i had the liver alcohol for 2years.i drink alot of alcohol before untill,i had a fever and liver pains the doctor said i should chack my liver which is called l.f.t .so after the test the doctor discover all is not will.is abnormal for all{ALT} {AST} {GGT }{ALP} {ALB}it means my liver is not working will.i had a treatment in china for 2years nothing ,even the doctor is tired of me so i stop going there ,i think i will die ,because i send 4320usd for 2year i don't have money to spend any more.i start pray to god to save me.i stop taking alcohol for long,decide to stop eating oil food,fats,egg,bread,fride food and i stop eating fresh food such like fish,meats e.t.c i worriy so much even my stomach is pain me but i hope one day god will hear me .i start cooking my own food without oil,i useing dry things like dry fish ,fresh vegetables,onions,carrots,with maggi, creyfish,white rice,everyday one type of food and i drinking alot of water each 30mins,,i eat alot of fruits like apples,mango,popo,grape e.t.c i don't takeing oranges because i had a stomach pains.i drinking[ vitamin B complx ]and folic acid ]i giving my self alot of rest to help my liver to be strong.i stop to eat too much ,i eat alittle even if i hungry i eat alittle for 3months,believe me i want to test yesterday after my test the result is normal,i don't believe it, i want to another test is normal .my stomach is not paining me again i feeling good now for one week .the liver can healing by it self,i said to myself in is life again i will never drink alcohol even to make a friend that takes it never.add me for yahoo for more informations about it add me care your health my friend i can help you to tell thanks
My husband is a heavy drinker of whisky. He consume around 500ml of whisky a night and has been alcoholic for more than 10 yrs and is now suffering from liver disease. He starting noticing a pain in his liver area 4 weeks ago and now showing a jaundice or yellowing of his skin and eyes and so as his stool and urine. Are all these symptoms of a severe stage? I think he's got a hepatitis liver disease which worries me and my sons health. Is this contagious or transferrable if it is how? He completely stop drinking as soon as he starts to see the sign and symptoms and trying to eat more healthier food. For how long would he suffer this disease? And is it still possible to cure this?
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