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New Delhi. Liver is an organ located on the upper side of the stomach. Which is inside your ribs. Liver performs many functions in the body like breaking down medicines, alcohol and toxic substances, producing bile so that fat can be broken down in the body. Storing certain types of vitamins and glucose and producing proteins that are considered essential for blood clotting.

There are many things that can damage your liver. However, liver tissue regenerates. But if your liver gets continuously damaged then scar tissue starts forming. When scar tissue forms, it replaces healthy liver tissue. When this happens, the liver becomes unable to function properly.

One of the main reasons for liver damage is alcohol consumption. When liver damage occurs due to alcohol, it is called alcohol liver disease.

So let us know what are the early signs of alcohol liver disease and also know what alcohol does to your liver.

What are the early signs of liver damage due to alcohol?

Liver works to break down toxic substances in the body. This also includes alcohol. When you consume alcohol, different types of enzymes present in the liver start breaking it down so that it can be removed from your body.

When you consume more alcohol than your liver’s capacity, it causes liver damage. This causes fat to increase in your liver and over time, healthy liver tissue gets damaged and scar tissue is formed.

No symptoms are seen in the beginning of liver disease caused due to alcohol. Because of which you do not realize how much alcohol has damaged your liver.

If some symptoms of liver disease are seen due to alcohol then they include-

Swelling of the liver, which may cause discomfort in the upper right part of your stomach, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting.

What happens to your liver if you drink too much alcohol?

One has to face three types of problems under liver disease caused by alcohol. Let us know about them –

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-

Alcoholic fatty liver disease is also called hepatic steatosis. This happens when fat starts accumulating in your liver. Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol prevents fat from being broken down in the liver, due to which it starts accumulating.

The problem of alcoholic fatty liver disease is quite common among people who consume excessive alcohol. There are no symptoms of alcoholic fatty liver disease. If its symptoms are seen then these include problems in the area around the liver, fatigue, weight loss without any reason.

This problem can be got rid of by not consuming alcohol for a few weeks. Although in some people this problem resolves within a few weeks, in others it may take more time to get cured.

Alcoholic hepatitis-

If you continuously consume alcohol in large quantities, it increases swelling in the liver. Due to which you may have to face the problem of alcoholic hepatitis.

Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis include pain around the liver, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, jaundice.

Alcoholic hepatitis can be mild and severe. In mild alcoholic hepatitis the liver gets gradually damaged. At the same time, in severe alcoholic hepatitis the liver gets suddenly damaged. If you want to get rid of alcoholic hepatitis, you will have to stop consuming alcohol completely. Besides, in its treatment you also need to make changes in your diet. In alcoholic hepatitis, many times a person also needs liver transplant.

alcoholic cirrhosis– Continuous consumption of alcohol causes damage to healthy liver tissue and formation of scar tissue. This is called fibrosis. As fibrosis increases, one has to face the problem of alcoholic cirrhosis.

Symptoms of alcoholic cirrhosis are similar to alcoholic hepatitis. Also, one may have to face many serious diseases due to alcoholic cirrhosis. Such as high blood pressure in the liver, accumulation of fluid in the stomach, brain damage due to increased blood toxin level, increased risk of infection, kidney failure and liver cancer.

Risk factors for liver disease caused by alcohol
alcohol abuse-

Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol over a long period of time significantly increases the risk of alcohol- liver damage.

sex-

The risk of alcohol liver damage in women is much higher than in men.

obesity-

People suffering from obesity have a higher risk of alcohol liver damage.

Infection-

The risk of liver damage is very high in people suffering from hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

How can we improve liver health?

You can improve the health of your liver in some ways. Not consuming alcohol is one of these. Consuming alcohol in moderation and occasionally reduces the risk of liver disease. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has told how much alcohol should women and men consume-

One drink a day for women.
2 drinks daily for men.

You can boost liver health in these ways also

Healthy Diet- To boost liver health, it is important that you consume fresh foods, whole grains, proteins, and also consume limited amounts of high sugar, unhealthy fats, and refined carbohydrates.

Exercise-

Exercising daily reduces extra fat in the body and it also reduces liver fat.

Manage weight-

Due to obesity, the risk of alcoholic fatty liver disease increases significantly. In such a situation, it is important that you maintain your weight.

Regular health checkup-

By getting regular health checkups done, you can detect any disease before time. If you see early symptoms of alcohol liver disease, then definitely consult a doctor.