Many believe they can drink their way out of the stress, pressure, and other problems caused by the pandemic. Especially during the lockdowns, most of us were more depressed as we felt our freedom was taken away from us, leading to more people drinking in their homes. In fact, U.S. news outlets report that alcohol sales increased from March 2020 to the end of last year.
It is important to address alcohol misuse as soon as possible, according to Haven House Recovery, a center for addiction recovery in Nashville. It’s a serious problem that can lead to addiction and increase a person’s risk of developing liver diseases. It’s actually one of the leading causes of an increase in liver transplants in the United States.
Here’s a compilation of essential information about alcohol misuse and liver disease and the effects of the pandemic on liver transplant cases. It may help you or a loved one involved in heavy drinking understand what’s happening and what you can do about it.
Does Alcohol Cause Liver Damage?
Long-term alcohol abuse can cause liver damage. It’s also known as alcoholic liver disease, commonly occurring in men between 40 and 50. While women are less likely to drink, they can still develop alcoholic liver disease.
Not all heavy drinkers develop alcoholic liver disease, but each alcoholic beverage you drink increases your risk of developing it. Your liver processes and breaks down the alcohol you consume, and drinking more than it can handle will damage it. Continuing down an alcoholic’s road may lead to alcoholic hepatitis, a condition characterized by a swollen and inflamed liver.
How Much Alcohol Causes Liver Damage?
Drinking two to three alcoholic drinks a day is harmful to your liver, especially in those with low alcohol tolerance. Consuming four to five alcoholic beverages increases your risk of developing liver damage.
Simultaneously drinking alcohol and taking medications further damages your liver. Combining antibiotics, sedatives, and antidepressants with alcoholic beverages is dangerous.
Is Alcohol The Reason Why More People Need a Liver Transplant?
A study published in JAMA Network Open in October 2021 suggests that alcohol misuse could be one reason for the rise in Americans who need a liver transplant. This is due to the rise in alcohol consumption during COVID-19.
The study found that 32,320 Americans diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis received a new organ. They also found that between March 2020 and January 2021, 51,488 people were on the waiting list for a transplant, which is 50% more than the pre-pandemic numbers.
Signs of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
The problem with liver disease is that symptoms don’t always show up until severe damage has occurred. Some of these symptoms include:
- Jaundice
- Abdominal swelling
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting and nausea
- Dark-colored urine
- Bloody, pale, or discolored stool
- Chronic fatigue
- Appetite loss
- Disorientation
- Itchy skin
- Fever
- Drowsiness
Stages of Alcohol-related Liver Disease
There are three major stages of liver disease caused by alcohol misuse:
1. Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Drinking too much alcohol for a few days can cause fat buildup in your liver. You can prevent it from worsening and reverse it if you stop drinking alcohol for at least two weeks. Although most patients don’t experience symptoms, it may be a sign to quit drinking.
2. Alcoholic Hepatitis
Prolonged alcohol abuse can cause alcoholic hepatitis. Stopping alcohol abuse can help reverse the condition; otherwise, it can become a life-threatening illness.
3. Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is the last stage of alcohol-related liver disease, involving irreversible liver damage. It’s best to stop drinking at this point. Although it won’t reverse the damage, it helps prevent liver scarring. Continuously drinking alcohol at this stage may lead to death.
Alcohol-related Liver Disease: What are The Complications?
Too much alcohol can lead to liver disease and different complications like:
- Internal bleeding
- Brain toxin buildup
- Fluid accumulation in the abdomen
- Increased vulnerability to infection
- Liver cancer
- Portal hypertension
- Varices
Cirrhosis is the ninth leading cause of death in America; liver disease and cirrhosis account for around 35,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
Alcohol-related Liver Disease : Treatment
There is currently no treatment available for alcohol-related liver diseases. Abstaining from alcohol is the best option liver disease patients have to prevent it from worsening.
Patients may also need nutritional support. Most liver disease patients are malnourished due to the loss of appetite they experienced, preventing them from consuming essential nutrients.
A liver transplant may be necessary in severe cases of liver failure. Patients who have received liver transplants experience higher survival rates than patients treated with medical therapy alone. Transplant centers also require patients to demonstrate a commitment to sobriety.
Key Takeaway
Liver disease is one of many health problems caused by alcoholism. Unfortunately, many turned to alcohol during the pandemic, which has caused a spike in liver transplant cases. Liver disease has three stages; the first two are reversible and easier to treat, while the last stage is characterized by irreversible damage that needs continuous medical attention. There isn’t any treatment for alcohol-related liver diseases. Sobriety is often the best way to reverse it or prevent it from worsening, and it’s vital for patients who undergo a liver transplant.
