Can my liver recover?
What happens depends on how badly your liver is damaged and on your general health. If you have a fatty liver, you can help your liver to recover by stopping or cutting down on your drinking.
If you have alcoholic hepatitis, most people can recover if they stop drinking completely (cutting down will only reduce the amount of damage done). But people with severe alcoholic hepatitis, who need to be admitted to hospital, have around a one in three chance of dying in the first month after admission.
If you have cirrhosis, your liver cannot fully recover. But you can prevent any further damage being done to your liver and increase your survival rate if you stop drinking.
If your liver is badly affected by cirrhosis and you continue to drink, it is estimated that you have only a one in three chance of living for five years. However, if you stop drinking, you can almost double your survival chances.
Effects of alcohol on the rest of your body
Alcohol can damage any part of your body. As well as causing alcoholic liver disease, excessive drinking can lead to a number of other health problems, such as:
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stomach disorders
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pancreatitis leading to diabetes
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high blood pressure
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heart problems, including heart attacks
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strokes
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vitamin deficiencies
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sexual difficulties, including impotence
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problems with the brain
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depression
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problems with nerves in the arms and legs
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cancer of the liver, mouth, throat, gullet, large bowel (gut) and breast.
Will alcohol make me fat?
Alcohol contains a lot of calories, so drinking can make you fat. For example, even a small glass of wine (125ml) contains between 80 and 100 calories while a pint of draught beer at 3.5% abv may have up to 180 calories. Stronger ales and ciders will contain a great many more calories.
Compare this to the daily calorie requirement of an average woman or man (2000 and 2500 calories respectively) and it is easy to see how you can put on weight by drinking alcohol.
Additionally, the calories you consume from drinking are known as ‘empty calories’ because they give no nutritional value.
Marianne’s story
Marianne leads a stressful life. At the age of 45 she is juggling two kids and a busy job. She is used to unwinding most nights of the week with a bottle of white wine that she shares with her husband (22.5 units a week). During a check up, her doctor noticed signs that her liver was notnormal and an ultrasound test showed a fatty liver. After three months without alcohol Marianne has lost weight and feels a lot healthier. Her liver has recovered and she is now able to have a drink now and then, but never has more than 14 units in one week.
Drinking with other liver diseases
Anyone with a liver condition should be very cautious about drinking alcohol, as there is strong evidence that this will make their condition worse.
Drinking advice will vary from person to person, even among those with the same condition. Many people find they can no longer tolerate any alcohol while others might drink a small amount on special occasions.
If you have any type of liver condition it is sensible to approach alcohol with caution or avoid it completely. If you are unsure whether it is right for you to drink, talk to your doctor.