Alcohol Detrimental to Liver

Alcoholism is becoming a big problem now-a-days where people are turning alcohol dependent rapidly. Generally people drink alcohol on a regular basis but never develop any problem. However, this does not remain valid in all the cases. People do become alcohol dependent and find it very difficult to come out of it. Excessive alcohol consumption severely affects the liver. When we consume alcohol, the blood stream absorbs 20 percent of it, while the stomach and intestine lining absorb the remaining amount. This is then broken down into carbon dioxide, fat, and water. The liver can normally bear one pint per hour. However when we drink alcohol excessively, the liver requires a lot of water for alcohol breakdown. As alcohol consumption leads to frequent urination, water from the other parts of the body is shifted to the liver. This leads to dehydration. Also, the liver produces acetaldehyde while absorbing alcohol, which produces toxic effects on the liver, brain, and stomach.

You may need treatment if you develop a drinking problem and drink more than the suggested low risk drinking guidelines. As per the guidelines of CAMH (Centre for Mental Health and Addiction) to lower the risk of developing a drinking problem, women should not have more than two drinks per day whereas men should not have more than three drinks per day. Here a drink means 5 oz. of 12% wine, 1.5 oz. of 40% liquor, or 12 oz. of 5% beer. CAMH also suggests that you should plan the days of the week when you avoid drinking to reduce alcohol dependence. Thus you must follow these health tips and visit a rehabilitation center if you have become an alcohol addict.

As per the US National Library of Medicine, alcoholism and alcohol abuse are the different forms of drinking problems. In case of alcoholism, an individual develops physical addiction to alcohol but still continue with drinking. This may affect his physical health, mental health, employment, and relationships. When it comes to alcohol abuse, an individual’s drinking habit does not reflect in his physical actions but it can lead to problematic situations.

When it comes to alcohol and health, alcohol can produce adverse effects on health and its excessive intake is highly detrimental to the liver. Even MedlinePlus claims this fact. The more you drink, the more likely you are to develop the risk of liver diseases. The regular and excessive alcohol consumption over time does lead to liver inflammation which is nothing but hepatitis. It may further progress into liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver stops the overall functioning of the liver. It is hardly curable and leads to death.

Thus there is no way out but to quit alcohol consumption and you must do it.