The human liver performs many jobs that are vital to keeping us healthy: breaking down fat, protein and carbohydrates to maintain our metabolism, aiding digestion and detoxifying the body. The liver works to remove toxins such as alcohol from the body. However, when too much alcohol is consumed, the liver can become damaged and unable to perform its essential functions. This can have potentially life-threatening effects.
Fat Cell Buildup
People who drink heavily often develop a condition known as "fatty liver." Fatty liver is characterized by a significant buildup of fat cells and an overall enlargement of the liver. Some people have no symptoms, but others may feel some discomfort in the upper abdomen. This type of damage is usually reversible if excessive alcohol consumption is stopped.
Inflammation
Drinking too much alcohol can cause the liver to become swollen or inflamed, leading to a condition called alcoholic hepatitis. According to The American Liver Foundation, up to 35 percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis. Those who have the mild form of the condition may experience a slow progression of symptoms over years, culminating in potentially irreversible liver damage. Others who have severe hepatitis may experience an acute onset of symptoms (often after binge drinking), and the consequences of the attack can be life-threatening. General symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and tenderness, fever and jaundice (a condition that causes the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellowish in color).
Cirrhosis
Chronic heavy drinking (usually 10 years or more) can scar the liver and permanently damage normal tissue. This is called alcoholic cirrhosis. Between 10 percent and 20 percent of heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis, according to The American Liver Foundation. Symptoms may include poor appetite, weight loss and a general feeling of malaise (weakness, sickness and fatigue), according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Damage caused by cirrhosis is not reversible, so stopping alcohol intake entirely is critical to prevent further life-threatening complications.
Other Serious Complications
Other serious complications can occur after years of heavy drinking. Some of these can be life-threatening, so medical care should be sought immediately if these signs emerge. Complications may include abdominal bloating (caused by fluid in the abdomen), coughing up blood (caused by bleeding from veins in the esophagus), an enlarged spleen, liver or kidney that may be palpable upon examination, high blood pressure in the liver, and serious changes in mental function that can include confusion, loss of consciousness or coma, kidney failure or liver cancer.
