Alcohol-related liver disease
Alcohol-related liver disease, or ARLD, causes liver damage due to alcohol abuse. There are severe stages of the disease, along with several symptoms.
Alcohol-related liver disease stages
There are three primary stages for ARLD that often overlap with each other. The following are the stages.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease
Consuming too much alcohol, even for a few days, can develop liver fats.
Alcoholic liver fats rarely show any symptoms, but it’s a crucial warning sign for alcohol abuse. Still, fatty liver is not a significant threat, and the disease can be reversible. Once you stop drinking for two or more weeks, the liver may return to normal.
Alcoholic hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis is entirely unrelated to hepatitis infections. Alcohol hepatitis is a severe condition that develops over time if you are consuming alcohol is a harmful level. Developing alcoholic hepatitis while drinking alcohol for a short period is less likely. The liver damage and the condition are reversible once you stop drinking permanently, but the later stages can cause life-threatening illnesses.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is the most severe symptom that can damage the liver significantly. The stage doesn’t show any obvious symptoms and is probably not reversible. If a person with cirrhosis doesn’t stop drinking, their chances of living at least five years are less than 50%.
ARLD symptoms
Often ARLD doesn’t have many symptoms until it damages the liver. But some indications can include:
- Abrupt weight loss
- Falling sick
- Loss of appetite
- Abdomen and ankles swelling
- Drowsiness and confusion
- Sickness
- Blood vomiting
- Blood in stool
ARLD preventions
To prevent ARLD:
- It’s recommendable to drink a maximum of 14 units a week for both men and women
- Divide the 14 units into three days or more in a week.
A unit of alcohol is equal to 25ml of pub measure of spirits. Reducing your alcohol intake can have long and short-term benefits to your health and overall health.
Alcohol-related liver disease complications and treatments
Life-threatening complications:
- Internal bleeding
- Developing toxins in the brain
- Abdomen fluid accumulation with kidney failure
- Liver cancer
- Higher vulnerability to infections
Medical treatment and counselling are available for people with alcohol-related liver disease.
A liver transplant happens when the liver stops functioning and doesn’t improve even when you stop alcohol consumption, and these things happen when you develop cirrhosis.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 23 JUNE 2022