What are the early signs of liver damage due to excess alcohol consumption?

May 19, 2021
5763 Views

The liver is present on the upper right side of the abdomen and just under the ribs. It performs different functions which are beneficial for your overall health like:

Break down of toxic substances like alcohol, drugs, and many other things.
Bile production is necessary for fat digestion.
Nutrients storage along with certain vitamins
Protein development is necessary for blood clotting.

If the liver functioning is affected it can prevent many vital functions. Liver damage from alcohol is one of the main reasons for fatal deaths all over the globe. It is also referred to as alcohol-related liver disease and consulting the medical expert at an early stage is important. Your liver health is important to keep yourself doing your daily activities with ease.

What are the early signs of liver damage from alcohol?

As we have mentioned, the liver is essential to break down the toxic substances which include alcohol. If you drink alcohol way beyond the normal limit then it can affect or potentially damage the liver. In such cases, the fat content is increased in the liver which leads to inflammation and scar tissue accumulation. In the case of alcohol-related liver disease, there are no symptoms at the initial stage. Although, there are certain symptoms which you can notice like:

Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Unexplained weight loss
Liver swelling, which increases discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen

How liver health is affected due to excess alcohol consumption?

In this, there are chances to have 3 different liver problems which include:

Alcoholic fatty liver disease

In medical terms, it is also known as hepatic steatosis. It occurs due to fat build-up as excess alcohol consumption makes it difficult to break down the fat. It is extremely common in those who drink alcohol in excess. The chances of having this condition are around 90%. This situation can lead to symptoms like:

Discomfort in the liver area
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss

Alcoholic hepatitis

At some point, the problem can lead to liver inflammation and this is referred to as alcoholic hepatitis. It can lead to the following symptoms:

Fatigue
Fever
Pain in the liver area
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

This can lead to mild or severe symptoms and over years it leads to liver damage. Treatment can help to control your situation.

Alcoholic cirrhosis

There are high chances that if you do not stop then it can lead to scar tissue formation which affects the healthy liver tissue. It can lead to serious health issues like:

Bleeding from veins in the upper digestive tract (varices)
Increased risk of infection
Kidney failure
Liver cancer
Portal hypertension (high blood pressure of the liver)
Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen)
Hepatic encephalopathy (brain damage due to increased toxins)

How to improve your liver health?

Moderate alcohol consumption

Women: Up to 1 drink per day
Men: Up to 2 drinks per day

Depending on the type of alcohol you consume

1.5 oz of liquor (40% alcohol)
5 oz of wine (12% alcohol)
8 oz of malt liquor (7% alcohol)
12 ounces (oz) of beer (5% alcohol)

Final thought!

It is better to not let the situation reach the stage that it leads to liver damage. Make sure to consult the doctor on time and get an effective treatment approach.

How does COVID-19 affect the liver? How can we protect ourselves from this?

May 18, 2021
4110 Views

If any person is suffering from any kind of liver condition, then he is likely to catch the Corona Virus. If you do not have any liver problem and you are tested for Covid, then there are chances that your liver may catch the infection as covid affects liver.

Let’s discuss some of the QNA which are most customarily asked.

Which kind of patients are advised to take extra protection measures into account?

The patients who have recently undergone liver transplant surgery are advised not to step out of their house and even maintain some distance from their family members as well.

The patients who do have any kind of chronic liver diseases.
The patients who may have the following live problems:
- Liver cirrhosis
- Ascites
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Variceal bleed
- Synthetic liver dysfunction

What if the patients are waiting for the liver transplant? What should they do in this situation?

COVID is an extremely difficult time for all of us. The liver transplant specialist will take so many factors into account before proceeding with the liver transplant surgery. The doctors will discuss all the possible risks and complications with the patients to make sure that the right decision is being taken. In most cases, the doctors may suggest delaying the transplant, if it is not deteriorating the health of the patient.

What if the patient is worried about work?

If the patient is worried about work, then, first of all, you should opt up for doing work from home. If that is not possible, then in that situation you should make sure that your employer has taken necessary precautions to make the workplace covid secure. Besides, you should not only remain dependent on the measures taken by the employer, rather you should be taking precautions in the account as none other than you can save you from this COVID crisis.

How will the hospital staff carry out the consultation?

The hospital staff will try to carry out the consultation in different ways like through the audio or video class. The doctor will not call you to the hospital for the consultation unless it is urgent. The cancer patients will be treated as the priority. But their attendants may not be allowed to stay in the hospital for longer hours.

How can we protect ourselves from the deadly virus?

COVID is a sum of all the major categories of the viruses that may include the following:

Cold
Flu
Serious Respiratory illness
Severe acute respiratory syndrome

Additional Necessary Measures

But if we follow the subsequent measures, then we can surely protect ourselves from the virus:

First of all, do not leave home unless it is very necessary.
Do not use any item brought from outside unless you have sanitised it properly.
Do not maintain close contact with the people who are not well.
Wash your hands often, it will cut down the risk of you getting affected by the virus.
Do not order food from outside. But if it is required, then make sure you are microwaving it before using it.