Alcohol-induced Hepatitis And The Risk To Your Liver

Alcohol-induced hepatitis occurs when the liver becomes inflamed due to the use - or perhaps the over use - of alcohol. Alcohol-induced hepatitis, often simply called alcoholic hepatitis, should not be confused with cirrhosis of the liver because they are not strictly the same. But hepatitis brought on by alcohol use is considered to be an early stage of alcoholic liver disease.

Not all heavy drinkers get hepatitis caused by alcohol. In fact, some individuals with alcohol-induced hepatitis, are just moderate consumers of alcoholic beverages.

It is possible to recover from hepatitis caused by alcohol if you stop drinking. But when you have this condition, if you continue to drink it considerably increases your risk of getting cirrhosis - and ultimately, liver failure. When the liver fails, getting a liver transplant is the only way you can survive.

Researchers have not been able to establish precisely why alcohol can cause hepatitis, but there are a variety of possibilities. They know that when you drink alcohol, some toxic chemicals are secreted by the liver. These substances result in irritation, which in turn causes the liver to become inflamed. Liver cells are destroyed in the process, and scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue. Doctors call this scarring process cirrhosis - the disease many people call cirrhosis of the liver. It's the final stage of liver disease caused by use of alcohol.

It also hasn't been determined why some individuals who drink a lot never get hepatitis brought on by alcohol use or cirrhosis, while other persons who merely imbibe moderately do This circumstance leads scientists to presume that factors besides alcohol can have some influence on who finally gets the disorder. Genetics may also be a factor.

If you're already afflicted with liver problems, and you drink, you undoubtedly have more of a chance of getting hepatitis caused by alcohol use. This is especially true if you have hemochromotosis. Hemochromotosis is a disease in which too much iron accumulates in the body.

Malnutrition may be another component that matters in who gets hepatitis brought on by alcohol use. Heavy drinkers often eat poorly, and will sometimes drink when they should eat. Alcohol also inhibits proper digestion. Once again, there may be damage to liver tissue as a result.

As is true with most liver conditions, symptoms are scarce in the early stages of hepatitis caused by alcohol use. But as the disease gets worse, symptoms become more obvious. They vary but often abdominal pain and tenderness is typical, along with ascites, a disorder in which fluid accumulates in the abdomen. Abnormal thirst is typical too.

Constant fatigue, weakness and dizziness are often accompanied by cognitive problems mixed with confusion. Occasional fever and vomiting, sometimes with blood, are also symptoms.

Even though someone with hepatitis caused by alcohol use often loses their desire for food, they are likely to put on some pounds.

A yellowish tint may appear in the skin and the whites of the eyes. This may indicate jaundice, a telltale symptom of a liver problem.

Symptoms of hepatitis caused by alcohol use will probably get worse if you eat a lot of alcohol in a brief amount of time, or indulge in binge drinking.

Those who are experiencing such signs should consult their physician as soon as possible because hepatitis from alcohol use may lead to a series of critical medical conditions, including gastrointestinal bleeding.