The likelihood of developing a liver disease arises from the quantity of alcohol consumption and the time period for which it has continued. It can also be caused by binge drinking.
The important affects it has on your health are inflammation (hepatitis) in the liver or scarring and then cirrhosis of the liver. It can even be life-threatening. Often those who drink too much are unable to get proper nutrition, which just makes the disease worse.
It is also to be noted, that alcoholic liver disease may be more common in some families and may not occur in all heavy drinkers. Also, women are more susceptible to them than men.
Depending on the severity of the disease, various symptoms are prevalent. Some of them may not appear till the disease becomes advanced.
Abdominal pain and tenderness, Dry mouth and increased thirst, Fatigue, Jaundice, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Swelling or fluid buildup in the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites) when cirrhosis is present, Weight loss – these are a few of the symptoms.
Others include the changing of skin to abnormally dark or light skin or redness on feet or hands or small, red spider-like blood vessels on the skin or even yellow color in the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes (jaundice).
A few symptoms:
Abnormal bleeding, Bloody, dark black, or tarry bowel movements (melena), Nosebleeds or bleeding gums, Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
Agitation (being stirred up, excited, or irritable), Confusion (encephalopathy), Periods of decreased alertness or awareness, Hallucinations, Impaired short- or long-term memory, Pain, numbness, or tingling in the arms or legs, Problems paying attention or concentrating, Poor judgment or Slow, sluggish movements.
Breast development in males, Light-headedness or fainting, especially when rising to standing position.
A few tests to identify this disease are: Complete blood count (CBC), Liver biopsy and Liver function tests such as ALP.
You must give up alcohol. Your liver may be able to heal if alcohol consumption is stopped. Malnutrition id there is any may be reversed by intake of Vitamins, especially B-complex and folic acid. However, if cirrhosis has developed, you may even need a liver transplant.