When you drink more than your liver can effectively process, alcohol and its byproducts can damage your liver. This initially takes the form of increased fat in your liver, but over time it can lead to inflammation and the accumulation of scar tissue.
The early stages of alcohol-related liver disease often have no symptoms. Alcohol-related liver disease actually encompasses three different liver conditions. Alcoholic fatty liver disease is also called hepatic steatosis. It happens when fat begins to build up within your liver. Consuming too much alcohol can inhibit the breakdown of fats in the liver, causing fat accumulation.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease is common in heavy drinkers. People with alcoholic fatty liver disease typically have no symptoms.
When symptoms are present, they can include:. Alcoholic fatty liver disease can be reversed by abstaining from alcohol for at least several weeks. The exact amount of time can vary by individual. For some, abstinence may need to be permanent. If someone with this condition has alcohol use disorder , a healthcare provider will need to set up a treatment plan.
This plan will help manage the condition as well as the withdrawal symptoms that may occur with abstinence. If excessive alcohol consumption continues, inflammation levels can begin to increase in the liver. This can lead to a condition called alcoholic hepatitis. Alcoholic hepatitis can be mild or severe.
In mild alcoholic hepatitis, liver damage occurs slowly over the course of many years. Severe alcoholic hepatitis can come on suddenly, such as after binge drinking , and can be life threatening.
If you develop alcoholic hepatitis, you may be able to reverse the damage by permanently abstaining from alcohol. But it is most common in middle age. Risk factors include:.
When these risk factors happen together, they cause a health problem called metabolic syndrome. People with metabolic syndrome often have fatty liver. They also are more likely to have heart disease. Other conditions that may raise your risk include polycystic ovary syndrome, sleep apnea, and hypothyroidism. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is sometimes called a silent liver disease. This is because it can happen without causing any symptoms. A few people who have fat in their liver develop nonalcoholic steatohepatitis NASH.
If you have NASH, you may have symptoms. But it could take years for them to show up. Sometimes liver damage from NASH causes long-term scarring and hardening of your liver. This is called cirrhosis. It also increases risk for liver cancer. Symptoms from NASH may include:.
These symptoms may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can happen without causing any symptoms.
Your healthcare provider may think you have it if your test results are abnormal. This is especially true if you are obese or have diabetes. Imaging tests. Blood test. A special blood test can check how diseased your liver is. Liver biopsy. The provider puts a long needle through your skin into your liver. The needle removes a small piece of liver tissue.
We do not yet know what causes this illness, but it is not in any way related to alcohol consumption. In cirrhosis, normal liver cells are damaged and replaced by scar tissue. This scarring keeps the liver from performing many of its vital functions. Source : "What Are the Myths vs. Your health information, right at your fingertips.
Read the Latest. Other known causes of liver disease include: Viruses Hereditary defects Reactions to drugs and chemicals Scientists are still investigating the causes for the most serious liver diseases. How much alcohol can I safely drink? Are there other dangers from alcohol besides how much I drink? Ask your doctor about precautions for prescription drugs.
What kinds of liver diseases are caused by too much alcohol? Alcoholic hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Cirrhosis involves permanent damage to the liver cells. If you stop drinking at this point, the liver can heal itself. Alcoholic Hepatitis What is alcoholic hepatitis? Dr Poh Choo Hean explains what may be causing your pain.
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