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Chronic Liver Disease Caused by Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD) causes dangerous changes in the liver and eventually can lead to death. ALD isn't likely to occur with moderate drinking, but it is a serious health concern if you abuse alcohol. If the disease is at an early or intermediate stage, stopping drinking can greatly improve your health and the condition of your liver.

  1. Function of the Liver

    • The liver breaks down the alcohol you drink, enabling it to be removed from the body. When you drink more alcohol than the liver can process, an imbalance occurs. This imbalance interferes with the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins and can cause liver damage.

    Fatty Liver

    • Fatty liver, or steatosis, is the mildest type of chronic liver disease caused by excessive alcohol consumption. The disease, which is often symptom-free, causes fat to build up in the liver. You can develop steatosis from chronic drinking or from a drinking binge. If you stop drinking, the condition can be reversed.

    Alcoholic Hepatitis

    • Alcoholic hepatitis occurs when the liver becomes inflamed as the result of alcohol consumption. As many as 35 percent of heavy drinkers eventually develop alcoholic hepatitis, according to the American Liver Foundation. A mild form of the disease can continue for a number of years and may lead to progressive liver damage. The more severe form of the disease often occurs after binge drinking and can cause life-threatening complications. If you have the mild form of alcoholic hepatitis, liver damage may be reversible if you stop drinking.

    Alcoholic Cirrhosis

    • The American Liver Foundation estimates that 10 percent to 20 percent of heavy drinkers have alcoholic cirrhosis, the most serious form of ALD. When cirrhosis occurs, normal liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue. The condition is not reversible, although it may stabilize if you stop drinking. The disease is considered life-threatening and usually occurs after drinkers progress through the earlier stages of ALD.

    Symptoms

    • If you have ALD, you may not notice any symptoms until the disease reaches an advanced stage. Symptoms may include dry mouth, thirst, abdominal pain, nausea, fever, jaundice and mental confusion. ALD also can cause bloody or black bowel movements, bloody vomit, agitation, confusion, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, redness of the hands or feet and lethargy. As the disease progresses, you may notice that your heart beats more rapidly and you feel lightheaded when you stand up. Males also may experience enlargement of the breasts.

    Complications

    • Serious complications of ALD include coma, changes in mental function, kidney failure, bleeding from veins in the esophagus, liver cancer and high blood pressure in the liver. If fluid begins to accumulate in the abdomen, you may notice that you are gaining weight.

    Treatment

    • In addition to quitting drinking, vitamin supplements and diet changes may help your liver repair itself. Quitting smoking also is important because scarring of the liver seems to occur more quickly in people who smoke and drink. If you are experiencing complications from ALD, medications may be needed to control those complications. If you have developed an advanced case of cirrhosis, a liver transplant may be the only option to restore your health. You must be committed to remaining sober in order to be selected as a liver transplant candidate.

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