It is a myth that cirrhosis is only caused by drinking too much alcohol. In fact, for many people with cirrhosis, alcohol may have nothing to do with their liver damage.
Anything that leads to the long-term, continuous damage of the liver can cause cirrhosis. In
addition to drinking alcohol, the more common causes are:
If you choose to drink, the Department of Health currently offers the following guidelines for sensible drinking:
- Women should not regularly drink more than two to three units of alcohol in a single day (no more than 14 units in a week – about a bottle and a half of wine)
- Men should not regularly drink more than three to four units of alcohol in a single day
(no more than 21 units in a week – about 10 pints of normal strength beer or lager).
However, these guidelines are for people without a liver condition. Anyone with a liver condition
should approach alcohol with caution. If you have cirrhosis you should not drink at all.
If you have a liver condition, talk to your doctor or healthcare professional before drinking alcohol as this can speed up or worsen the impact of liver disease.