Quick Facts About Alcoholic Liver Disease You Should Know!
As the name implies, alcoholic liver disease refers to liver damage caused by alcohol intake. Alcohol can irritate the organ and create fat deposits, which can eventually result in liver scarring — a condition called cirrhosis. While alcoholic liver disease is not commonplace, it does not affect everyone who consumes alcohol in large quantities. It may take years to detect the initial signs, and the likelihood of developing alcoholic liver disease is also determined by other factors. Genetics, according to experts at United Surgical Partners International, may play a role in alcoholic liver disease. Women are more prone than men to suffer from ALD.
What are the signs and symptoms?
In the majority of cases of alcoholic liver disease, there are no early warning signals, which is why patients sometimes delay seeking medical assistance until symptoms worsen. Patients frequently report weariness, decreased appetite, unexpected weight loss, nausea, and abdominal bloating and pain. Additionally, individuals may exhibit symptoms of jaundice, which refers to the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Additionally, some individuals may have spider-like veins in their chest and other areas of the body, making them prone to bruising. Alcoholic liver disease frequently impairs cognitive capacities, and the patient may experience numbness in the feet in addition to confusion.
Obtaining testing
If you have been drinking frequently for several years or are a heavy drinker in general, you should speak with your doctor about alcoholic liver damage. He may advise a few liver function tests to determine the concentration of specific enzymes. In most situations, an organ biopsy is also recommended, and patients may require additional ultrasound, CT scan, and blood testing.
The procedure
Because alcoholic liver disease is caused by excessive alcohol usage, the first step is to abstain from all alcoholic beverages totally. Your doctor may recommend therapy and a stay in a rehab facility to help you overcome the addiction. In the majority of cases, folic acids and vitamins are utilized to restore liver damage. If the patient has liver cirrhosis as a result of alcoholic liver disease, extra medications will be required to treat the problems. The final and most drastic option is a liver transplant, which is fortunately a pretty effective treatment.
If you have a friend or family member who struggles with alcoholism, educate them about alcoholic liver disease.