Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to liver damage, which is known as alcohol liver disease (ALD). There are various degrees of severity as well as a variety of related symptoms associated with this disorder. Addiction to alcohol impacts millions of people globally.
Alcohol use is one of the major causes behind deaths due to liver diseases because the liver is the major organ that metabolizes alcohol. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) manifests in two forms: acute form (alcoholic hepatitis) and chronic form (steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis). The amount, pattern, and duration of alcohol consumption, the extent of liver inflammation, a person's diet, dietary habits, and genetic predisposition all affect the severity and outlook of alcohol-induced liver disease. Liver cirrhosis is linked to a significant reduction in life expectancy, complications, and death. Severe acute alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is associated with around 50% death rate.
There are three stages of alcoholic liver disease:
Some ALD patients don't experience any symptoms until their condition has progressed. Others begin exhibiting symptoms sooner. The symptoms of Alcoholic liver disease are associated with the stage of the disease. Some people can experience following symptoms of Alcoholic liver disease:
Alcoholic liver disease treatment outcomes usually depend on an individual's willingness to quit alcohol and modify their lifestyle. Following are the options for Alcoholic liver disease treatment in Pune, India:
If you refrain from drinking alcohol for a while, the damage caused by ALD can be reversed. However, this could take months or years. This is due to the fact that the only way to minimize your liver damage from getting worse and possibly even prevent fatality from liver disease is to quit drinking. It's difficult to stop drinking, particularly because 70% of ALD patients struggle with alcoholism.
You might require additional treatment after you stop drinking in order to make sure you don't pick up drinking again. Psychological therapy is typically the first course of treatment provided. This entails discussing your thoughts and feelings with a therapist and how they impact your behavior and general well-being. If sole psychological counseling is ineffective, then you might also require medication to assist with alcohol abstinence, such as:
People with ALD are susceptible to malnutrition, so it's critical to maintain a balanced diet to ensure you're getting all the nutrients you require. Avoid salty foods and don't add salt to anything you eat to lower your chance of developing fluid accumulation-related swelling in your feet, legs, and abdomen. The damaged liver is not able to store glycogen, a type of carbohydrate that gives you energy in the short term. This results in muscle degeneration and weakness because the body turns to its own muscle tissue for energy in between meals. This implies that you might require a diet higher in protein and energy.
For some patients with this disease, a specific corticosteroid therapy may be administered to decrease the liver inflammation.
Liver failure results from the most severe forms of ALD, in which the liver becomes incapable of functioning. Currently, the only Alcoholic liver disease treatment in India available for irreversible liver failure is a liver transplant.
Consuming alcohol in excess can lead to various consequences, one of which is liver disease. Because of its potential to cause death from liver failure, this is extremely serious when it gets advanced. Alcohol-related liver disease can reduce life expectancy. Still, abstaining from alcohol can be helpful. Malnutrition can also be managed by modifying your diet and, if necessary, taking the right supplements. If you or a loved one consumes excessive amounts of alcohol, it's not too late to make lifestyle changes. If you believe you may have a drinking problem or are at risk of liver disease, see your doctor as soon as possible. They can assist you in quitting drinking and enhancing the condition of your liver.
Get more accurate guidance and Alcoholic Liver Disease Treatment in Pune, India from Dr. Abhishek Yadav.
Q1: Is it possible to get alcoholic liver disease treatment in Pune, India?
A; If a person stops drinking alcohol, the liver damage brought on by alcohol-related fatty liver disease can typically be repaired. However, fatty liver disease can worsen into alcohol-related cirrhosis or hepatitis if a person with the illness does not quit drinking.
Q2: What is the best method for liver repair?
A: Eliminating the source of the damage is the best way to repair the liver. For instance, it's crucial to give up alcohol if you have fatty liver from drinking. It's critical to eat nutritiously and reduce weight if your diet or weight are the cause.
Q3: What is the last stage of alcohol-induced liver damage?
A: The most severe and final stage of liver disease is liver cirrhosis. Liver fibrosis, or scarring of the liver, result in cirrhosis with excessive liver tissue damage. The injured liver tissue causes the scars to form. It is essentially the liver's self-repair activity to recover and survive.