When a person consumes large quantities of alcohol, it can damage her liver. Alcoholic liver damage has three different conditions: steatosis, hepatitis and cirrhosis. Steatosis, or fatty liver, results from a buildup of fat in the liver, while alcoholic hepatitis is liver inflammation. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that 70 percent of alcoholic hepatitis patients develop cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver.
Statistics
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism points out that alcoholic cirrhosis is the fourth most common cause of death in people ages 45 to 54. Over all age groups, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that cirrhosis was the 12th most common cause on death in 2000.
Alcohol Amount
The amount of alcohol it takes to damage the liver varies by gender. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains that women have a higher risk of alcoholic cirrhosis, since the alcohol reaches their bloodstream at a higher level and they have a slower breakdown of alcohol. It also takes less alcohol consumption to cause cirrhosis in women. The Merck Manual Home Edition notes that women who consume 2/3 oz. of pure alcohol a day and men who consume 2 oz. of pure alcohol a day for many years can develop severe liver problems by their 40s.
Effects on Liver
The development of alcoholic cirrhosis affects the liver's ability to function. For example, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse points out that cirrhosis affects the liver's ability to control infections and produce bile. Alcoholic cirrhosis also affects protein production for blood clotting. Other functions affected by alcoholic cirrhosis include the removal of toxins and bacteria and the processing of hormones, nutrients and drugs.
Symptoms
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse explains that patients may not have symptoms in the early stage of alcoholic cirrhosis. When patients do develop symptoms, they can have nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, abdominal pain and bloating. Fatigue, weight loss, itching and the appearance of spider-like blood vessels can also occur. The Merck Manual Home Edition adds that a patient may have other symptoms due to alcoholism or severe liver failure, such as muscle atrophy, change in liver size and an enlarged spleen. Patients can develop neuropathy, a condition that affects the nerves. Other symptoms that can occur with alcoholic cirrhosis include tendon shrinking in the hands, enlargement of the salivary glands in the cheeks and red palms.
Treatment
The Merck Manual Home Edition notes that no cure exists for alcoholic cirrhosis and the damage cannot be reversed. A healthy lifestyle can help with alcoholic cirrhosis, such as abstaining from alcohol and drugs and eating a healthy diet. The other treatments are for specific problems caused by cirrhosis. For example, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse explains that diuretics can treat the buildup of fluid in the abdomen. If treatments do not control the symptoms, patients may need a liver transplant, but only after they have stopped drinking alcohol for at least six months.
