Is Alcoholism A Curable Disease
Whether or not alcoholism is a curable disease is a common question among many, including those dealing with addiction as well as loved ones and friends who might be trying to help someone with the disease. Though there may be no easy cure for alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, the condition is treatable. Ongoing treatment and continued recovery efforts can be helpful in successfully managing alcoholism and preventing relapse in the long term.
What Are The Complications Of Alcoholic Hepatitis
Complications of alcoholic hepatitis include:
- Variceal hemorrhage: Internal bleeding from small veins dilated due to portal hypertension. Portal vein carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver and the scar tissue caused by alcoholic hepatitis blocks the blood flow and causes portal hypertension.
- Hepatic encephalopathy: Impairment of brain function from toxin buildup in the blood because the damaged liver is unable to process and eliminate the toxins.
- Coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia: Impaired blood clotting function and low platelet count in blood.
- Ascites: Fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity, caused by portal hypertension and the livers inability to produce albumin, a protein which prevents fluid from leaking out of blood vessels.
- Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: Bacterial infection in the membrane that lines the abdomen, due to ascites and gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Kidney failure: Dysfunction of blood circulation due to portal hypertension damages the kidney leading to water retention.
- Iron overload: Excessive iron getting deposited in the liver causing further damage.
- Infections: Damage to the liver compromises immunity and increases vulnerability to infections.
- Hepatitis C: Common in patients with alcoholic hepatitis, likely because intoxication impairs judgement and leads to risky behavior. Hepatitis C infection hastens the progression to liver cirrhosis and liver failure.
- Liver cancer: Liver damage increases the risk for developing liver cancer.
Can Stage 3 Cirrhosis Be Reversed
Cirrhosis has become irreversible. Diagnosed at stage 3, the 1-year survival rate is 80%. Its during stage 3 that a liver transplant may be recommended. Theres always a risk a persons body will reject the transplant, but if accepted, 80% of transplant patients survive more than 5 years past their operation.
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Symptoms & Side Effects Of Alcoholic Hepatitis
Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis may be mild or severe. Jaundice, a condition that causes a yellow coloring of the skin or eyes, is one of the most common symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis.
Other common symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis include:
- Fever
- Scarring of the liver can lead to liver failure.
- Kidney failure
- Damage to the liver can disrupt blood flow to the kidneys.
When complications related to alcoholic hepatitis arent treated, they can be life-threatening. If the complications are detected early, most are reversible. However, a person may require a major procedure or lifelong treatment for complications such as encephalopathy, cirrhosis or kidney failure.
How Is Alcoholic Hepatitis Diagnosed
A history of heavy alcohol consumption and presence of physical symptoms are usually clear indicators of alcoholic hepatitis. Patients tend to minimize the extent of their alcohol intake as a result, their doctor may ask for a detailed history and talk to the family, with the patients consent.
Tests used to diagnose alcoholic hepatitis include:
- Blood tests such as:
- Imaging tests of the liver such as:
- Endoscopy, in which a thin flexible tube with a lighted camera is passed through the esophagus to look for varices.
- Liver biopsy to determine the extent of damage to the liver, which is usually done only if diagnosis is inconclusive with other tests.
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What Are The Complications Of Alcohol
Complications from alcohol-related liver disease usually occur after years of heavy drinking. These complications can be serious.
They may include liver related conditions that are a consequence of portal hypertension:
- build up of fluid in the abdomen
- bleeding from veins in the esophagus or stomach
- enlarged spleen
Search for a Clinical Trial
Clinical trials are research studies that test how well new medical approaches work in people. Before an experimental treatment can be tested on human subjects in a clinical trial, it must have shown benefit in laboratory testing or animal research studies. The most promising treatments are then moved into clinical trials, with the goal of identifying new ways to safely and effectively prevent, screen for, diagnose, or treat a disease.
Speak with your doctor about the ongoing progress and results of these trials to get the most up-to-date information on new treatments. Participating in a clinical trial is a great way to contribute to curing, preventing and treating liver disease and its complications.
Start your search here to find clinical trials that need people like you.
Alcoholic Hepatitis: Causes Symptoms And Treatment
Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis are general and may be hard to identify. However, if alcoholic hepatitis is diagnosed early on, it may be reversible, so its important to know the symptoms.
Alcoholic hepatitis is the clinical term for alcohol-induced liver inflammation or swelling that is accompanied by the destruction of liver cells. This condition is a type of alcohol-related liver disease, caused by the toxic chemicals released into the liver when it metabolizes alcohol.
When someone develops symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis, their best option is to stop drinking. Continuing to consume alcohol may lead to additional health problems, such as liver cirrhosis , excessive bleeding and, eventually, liver failure.
Individuals who struggle with alcohol abuse or addiction may not be able to stop drinking on their own and may need the help of a formal alcohol addiction rehab program. There are many treatment options for people who no longer wish to drink.
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How Does Alcohol Effect The Liver
Drinking too much alcohol, either on a single occasion known as binge drinking or drinking a lot over time, can take a serious toll on your health and well-being. In addition to injuring the liver, alcohol has many effects on your body including:
- Lessening your ability to think clearly and move with coordination it can change your mood and behavior.
- Disrupting the processes involved in digestion, leading to malnutrition and weight loss.
- Weakening your immune system and the ability to fight infections. Increasing your risk of developing certain cancers including cancers of the colon, liver, esophagus, mouth, and breast .
Treatment For Alcoholic Hepatitis
Alcohol rehab is often required to help people who are addicted to alcohol stay sober. They have to quit drinking alcohol to recover from alcoholic hepatitis.
In addition to abstinence, treatments for alcoholic hepatitis include:
- Corticosteroid medications to reduce inflammation
- Pentoxifylline to improve kidney function
- Nutritional support to reverse health problems caused by malnutrition
In severe cases, feeding tubes may be necessary to ensure a person receives proper nutrition because many patients with alcoholic hepatitis have low appetite.
Other treatments that address complications associated with alcoholic hepatitis:
- Ascites can be treated by reducing salt consumption in the diet and taking diuretic medications.
- Hepatic encephalopathy may be treated with a medication called lactulose and antibiotics that remove toxins from the gut.
- Kidney failure caused by a condition called hepatorenal syndrome may be treated with a medication called Albumin and drugs that constrict blood vessels, such as terlipressin, midodrine and octreotide, or norepinephrine.
In severe cases, a liver transplant may be necessary. However, many liver transplant centers require six months of abstinence from alcohol before a patient becomes eligible for a transplant.
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Treatment Options For Alcoholic Hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis is a condition thats caused and aggravated by alcohol use. You need to stop drinking if you receive an alcoholic hepatitis diagnosis.
You may be able to reverse the damage to your liver by avoiding alcohol in the early stages of the disease. Once more significant damage has occurred, the changes within the liver become permanent. Significant damage can lead to conditions such as cirrhosis, blood clotting problems, and high levels of bilirubin.
Even if the damage is too severe to reverse, you should still quit drinking to prevent further harm to your liver. In people with permanent liver damage due to alcohol, theres a 30 percent increase in survival rate among those who stop drinking compared to those who continue to drink.
Theres always a benefit to quitting drinking. If you have an alcohol addiction and need help to stop drinking, talk to your doctor about the different treatment options for addiction. There are many excellent hospitals and clinic facilities that specialize in alcohol detoxification and recovery.
Treatment for alcoholic hepatitis may include medications that reduce inflammation in your liver and improve liver function.
Your doctor may also prescribe vitamin and nutrient supplements if youre malnourished. These nutrients may need to be provided through a feeding tube if youre having trouble eating. Feeding tubes pass nutrient-rich liquids directly into to your digestive system through a variety of methods.
Can Hepatitis Be Cured
Pro Tip
In many cases, the treatments for hepatitis can stop ongoing damage to the liver and even allow healing. But it depends on the type of hepatitis and the degree of inflammation and liver damage you have. If the hepatitis has not progressed to permanent damage , and there is a way to stop the inflammation, you have a good chance of recovery. Dr. Kumar
The best treatment for hepatitis depends on the specific diagnosis.
- Viral hepatitis A and E: generally no treatment is needed. With rest and fluids, these viruses go away, and long term damage is rare unless you already have chronic liver disease.
- Viral hepatitis B: Depending on whether the infection is new or chronic, it may be treated with antiviral medications.
- Viral hepatitis C: Antiviral medications, usually taken for 8-12 weeks.
- Autoimmune hepatitis: Long-term immunosuppressive medications, including steroids.
- NASH: Weight loss through diet and exercise. Also, if you have metabolic syndrome or diabetes, those diseases will be treated.
- Alcoholic hepatitis: May treat with steroids initially. The only definitive treatment is to stop drinking alcohol.
- Drug-induced or toxin-associated hepatitis: Stopping the drug or removing the toxin. More therapies may be needed depending on the drug/toxin and severity.
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Treatment Programs And Support
Doctors may recommend alcohol treatment programs for people who find it difficult to cut out alcohol. Programs are available both in and out of hospital, depending on the severity of the dependence.
These programs can help people to reduce and eventually stop consuming alcohol.
Here are some examples:
Not everyone who consumes large amounts of alcohol will develop alcoholic hepatitis.
More research is necessary to confirm why some people who drink in excess develop the disease while others do not.
It is also important to note that alcoholic hepatitis can also occur in moderate drinkers, although the risk is far lower.
According to the Liver Foundation, up to 35 percent of people who consume alcohol heavily develop alcoholic hepatitis. Of these, 55 percent already have cirrhosis.
Alcohol can have a wide range of harmful effects on the body. People who consume alcohol should do so in moderation.
Are Men Or Women More Likely To Get Alcoholic Hepatitis
Women appear to be more likely to suffer liver damage from alcohol.
Even when a man and woman have the same weight and drink the same amount, the woman generally has a higher concentration of alcohol in the blood because she has relatively more body fat and less water than the man, and her body handles alcohol differently.
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Now There Is Zero Proof That Alcohol Is What Makes A Great Cocktail
“I felt so terrible about who I was as a person because of my addiction that I just threw myself into everything else to make everything else look good,” she says.
Duenas checked herself into rehab on New Year’s Day in 2020 for four days. Her liver began to heal. And when the world went to pandemic lockdown last March, she attended recovery meetings on Zoom.
Then, on April 11, she discovered her boyfriend who had also been in recovery was relapsing on heroin. Two weeks later, she and the police found him dead in his apartment. Though he and Duenas had talked about marriage, he’d died from an overdose just after his 42nd birthday.
Duenas relapsed, hard.
Jessica Duenas on her 36th birthday in February of this year.
“The next eight months are such a blur,” she says eight hospitalizations, a major car wreck, and repeat stints in rehab. Duenas describes herself as normally politically active. But the last year passed by in a fog. She only vaguely recalls hearing about news in rehab: protests over Breonna Taylor’s shooting Election Day.
Last November, she says, she completely surrendered to the changes she knew she had to make. She quit her beloved job to focus on recovery, and her last drink was on Thanksgiving Day, she says. Days later, she wrote about her long-held secret in the Louisville Courier-Journal: “I’m Jessica, I’m the 2019 Kentucky State Teacher of the Year, I’m an alcoholic and I’ve been suffering in silence for years.”
How Can Prevent Alcoholic Hepatitis
The best treatment is to stop drinking.
Treatment also may include:
- Hereditary defects in iron or copper metabolism
- Prolonged exposure to toxins
In children, the most frequent causes are biliary atresia â a disease that damages the bile ducts â and neonatal hepatitis. Children with these diseases often receive liver transplants.
Many adult patients who require liver transplants suffer from primary biliary cirrhosis. We do not yet know what causes this illness, but it is not in any way related to alcohol consumption.
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Other Symptoms You May Have
People with chronic viral hepatitis B or C may also have:
- Joint pain
- Purple-colored spots on the skin
- Red, itchy rash, usually on the legs
People with severe hepatitis, usually caused by drinking too much alcohol, may have:
- Vomit blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Black, tar-like stool
- Swelling of the abdomen due to fluid accumulation
Liver Disease & Pancreatitis
Along with looking at the impact of alcohol on the liver, its also relevant to consider how alcoholism causes pancreatitis. There is acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis.
The pancreas is a gland behind the stomach responsible for releasing digestive enzymes and works with the liver to process substances. An inflamed pancreas is called pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis is sudden onset inflammation thats short-lived. The results of the condition range significantly, from being mildly uncomfortable to fatal, but most people recover. Chronic pancreatitis has symptoms similar to acute, but theres frequent pain, weight loss and the potential for diabetes to develop.
In the majority of cases, alcohol causes acute pancreatitis, although other causes may include trauma, metabolic conditions or infections. Heavy, long-time alcohol use accounts for about 60-90% of chronic pancreatitis cases.
Having chronic pancreatitis puts you at risk for other serious illnesses, including cancer and diabetes. Stopping alcohol use significantly increases your chances of recovering from pancreatitis.
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What Are The Different Types Of Alcohol
Alcohol-related liver disease, as the name implies, is caused by excessive consumption of alcohol and is a common, but preventable, disease. For most people, moderate drinking will not lead to the disease. There are three main types of alcohol-related liver disease:
Fatty liver, also called steatosis, is the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease and the most common alcohol-related liver disorder. It is characterized by an excessive accumulation of fat inside liver cells, which makes it harder for the liver to function. Usually there are no symptoms, although the liver can be enlarged and you may experience upper abdominal discomfort on the right side. Fatty liver occurs fairly soon in almost all people who drink heavily. The condition will usually go away if you stop drinking.
Alcoholic hepatitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the liver accompanied by the destruction of liver cells. Up to 35 percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis, which can be mild or severe. Symptoms may include fever, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and tenderness. In its mild form, alcoholic hepatitis can last for years and will cause progressive liver damage, although the damage may be reversible over time if you stop drinking. In its severe, acute form the disease may occur suddenly after binge drinking for instance and can quickly lead to life-threatening complications.
Symptoms of cirrhosis include those of alcoholic hepatitis, as well as the following:
What Are The Complications Of Alcoholic Liver Disease
About 30% of people with alcoholic liver disease have hepatitis C virus. Others have hepatitis B virus. Your provider will test you for both and treat you if needed.
People with alcoholic liver disease are also at greater risk for liver cancer.
About 50% have gallstones.
Those with cirrhosis often develop kidney problems, intestinal bleeding, fluid in the belly, confusion, liver cancer, and severe infections.
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Can You Drink Alcohol When You Have Hepatitis B Or C
Alcohol is believed to weaken the bodys ability to fight off the hepatitis C virus. The relationship between hepatitis B and alcohol9 is less well understood, but appears to be similar. With hepatitis B, moderate drinking may be less risky. In both cases, however, its best to avoid heavy drinking at all costs.
If you have hepatitis B or C, check with your doctor about what amount of alcohol, if any, is safe. But your safest bet is to avoid drinking altogether.
How Does Alcohol Affect Health
Alcohol dependence can have profound effects on an individuals life. It does more than affect a persons career and relationships, and on a practical level, it can seriously impact overall health and longevity. Long periods of heavy alcohol use are linked to brain and nervous system disease, nutrient deficiencies, and more. Perhaps the most well-established complication of long-term alcohol use is liver disease. An individual who completes a recovery program may go on to receive evidence-based interventions that address nutrition and the importance of self-care in recovery. However, the lingering question remains: can liver damage from alcoholism be reversed?
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