Alcohol
abuse is a leading cause of morbidity and
mortality throughout the world. It estimated
that in the United States as many as 10% of
men and 3% of women may suffer from persistent
problems related to the use of alcohol. People
with alcohol often consume alcohol despite
knowing that they suffer from alcohol-related
medical problems such as liver disease.
Alcohol affects many organ systems of the
body, but perhaps most notably affects the
central nervous system and the liver. Almost
all ingested alcohol is metabolized in the
liver and excessive alcohol use can lead to
acute and chronic liver disease.
Symptoms
of alcohol-induced liver disorders depend on
how much and how long a person has been
drinking alcohol. Excessive alcohol
consumption causes damage to the liver.
Development of alcoholic liver disorders
depends on how much alcohol has been consumed
and over what period of time. 2-3 servings of
alcohol daily can cause liver damage.
Women are more susceptible to the harmful
action of alcohol. 20 grams daily of pure
alcohol (1 glass of wine) over a 15-year
period can cause alcoholic liver cirrhosis.
For men, 60 daily grams (3 glasses of wine)
over a 15-year period can cause alcoholic
liver cirrhosis.
Alcohol-related liver disorders can appear in
three forms or in combinations of the three:
fatty liver, alcohol, and hepatitis and
alcohol cirrhosis.
Fatty
liver
Fatty liver is excessive accumulation of fat
inside the liver cells.
Fatty liver is the most common alcohol-induced
liver disorder. The liver is enlarged, causing
upper abdominal discomfort on the right side.
Alcoholic
hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis is an acute or chronic
inflammation of the liver, accompanied by the
destruction of individual liver cells and
scarring. Symptoms may include fever,
jaundice, an enlarged, tender liver, and
spider-like veins in the skin.
50% of alcoholics complain of heaviness and
pain in the upper part of the abdomen,
intolerance to fatty foods, nausea, and
bloating after eating greasy foods.
Liver cirrhosis
Alcoholic cirrhosis is the destruction of
normal liver tissue, leaving non-functioning
scar tissue. Symptoms may include those of
alcoholic hepatitis; in addition to
accumulation of the fluid in the abdomen
cavity, enlarged spleen, kidney failure,
confusion, or liver cancer (see liver
cirrhosis).
