How Alcohol programs your Liver to die!

Liver is one of the major and essential organs of our body and the body cannot survive without it. We must have heard of “Kitni Baar Bola Sharaab Nahin Peena Liver Sad Jayega Re Bhai.” Read on to know more.

What does the Liver do?

Liver is the second largest organ in the body, after skin! (Yes, Skin is indeed an organ if you missed that in Science lessons :D)

All the nutrients digested by your stomach and intestines travel to your liver through blood. Your liver then acts as a “cashier” metabolizing and storing these important nutrients and slowly transporting them to the other body organs through blood. This means that all medicines, proteins, fats, minerals, carbs and even unwanted bacteria or toxins are metabolized in the liver. So if the liver goes for a toss, practically all metabolism of the body goes for a toss!

In fact, the liver also stores glucose in its simple form and releases it into the blood whenever there is a fall of blood sugar in your body (a condition known as “hypoglycemia”).

When Alcohol reaches Liver:

When we drink alcohol, it reaches the liver through the blood and gets converted to acetaldehyde, a chemical that deposits in the liver and programs the liver cells to die! Alcohol also disrupts the synthesis and storage of fat in your body which leads to deposit of fat in the liver.

How Alcohol Damages Liver?

Long term consumption of alcohol can cause liver cells to scar which replaces all the healthy cells in an alcoholic liver. This condition is known as alcoholic liver disease (ALD). However, this doesn’t happen overnight but is a slow and gradual process. There are several stages of alcoholic liver disease which can be treated and easily managed if detected early.

1. Fatty Liver

It is the first stage of ALD in which fat starts depositing around the liver cells because of disturbed fat metabolism by alcohol. Symptoms of fatty liver include loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, and fatigue. This condition is reversible until the stage Grade-II Fatty Liver if consumption of alcohol is stopped. However, if alcohol is not withdrawn, it leads to alcohol hepatitis or liver cirrhosis.

2. Alcohol Hepatitis

In the second stage of ALD, liver cells start getting degenerated. The size of liver starts shrinking and scarring. Common signs are jaundice and fluid buildup in abdomen. If the alcohol use is not stopped, it can lead to liver failure.

3. Liver Cirrhosis

It is the end stage of alcoholic liver disease and also an irreversible stage. The liver will not be able to function and this condition is known as “liver failure”. Symptoms such as ascites (fluid buildup in abdomen) are very common. Liver transplant is an option in some individuals but quitting alcohol will be mandatory!

How to get rid of Alcoholic Liver Disease?

ALD is necessary to manage as the person with ALD has very high chances of developing liver failure. It’s management and treatments include:

1. Alcohol Withdrawal

It is necessary to abstain from alcohol when diagnosed with ALD to prevent the liver from getting worse.

2. Diet Intervention

The person with ALD must take a high protein diet and prevent taking diet with high carbohydrates or fats. A low salt diet is important for patients with liver disease, particularly those with leg swelling or ascites (fluid in the abdomen). The more salt you eat, the more fluid buildup you will experience.

3. Medications/Drugs

A physician prescribes various drugs based on the severity or stage of the disease, however there is no magical drug to “cure” ALD.

4. Liver Transplant

Liver transplant is sometimes the only option at the end stage of ALD.

I read somewhere “Alcohol gives you infinite patience for stupidity”. So drink with caution!

Manage your health and reduce chances of development of health related complications. Download Zyla app (http://bit.ly/2BftxyE-defeatingdiabetes) for continuous monitoring and personalised care.

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