What are the harms of alcohol consumption to the liver?

Dec 31, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Gao Jun

Introduction

In general, alcohol consumption poses significant harm to the liver and may lead to adverse outcomes such as elevated liver enzymes, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Long-term alcohol use can progressively damage liver tissue, including liver cells and liver function. As the condition worsens, it may gradually develop into cirrhosis and even cause gastrointestinal bleeding.

Generally speaking, alcohol consumption poses significant harm to the liver and may lead to adverse consequences such as elevated liver enzymes, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Elevated Liver Enzymes

Alcohol is metabolized in the liver. Long-term alcohol consumption may damage the liver, causing liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to rise, thereby causing symptoms such as fatigue and loss of appetite.

2. Fatty Liver

Alcohol may increase the burden on the liver and affect its excretory function. When fat metabolism slows down, fatty liver may gradually develop, leading to discomfort such as body obesity and poor mental condition.

3. Alcoholic Hepatitis

Long-term heavy alcohol consumption causes repeated irritation to the liver, resulting in impaired liver function. It may even increase inflammatory mediators in the liver, gradually leading to alcoholic hepatitis, which manifests as liver area pain, jaundice, nausea, and vomiting.

4. Cirrhosis

Long-term alcohol consumption can further worsen the condition when liver tissue, such as liver cells and liver function, are damaged. This may gradually progress to cirrhosis and even cause gastrointestinal bleeding.

5. Liver Failure

If alcohol consumption is not stopped in time and liver damage worsens, it may lead to liver failure, making the liver unable to maintain normal metabolism. It may even damage the nervous system, causing neurological abnormalities such as impaired consciousness and severe coma.

Therefore, for the sake of health, alcohol consumption should be stopped promptly, and adequate water intake should be increased to accelerate metabolism and reduce the burden on the liver.

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