When it comes to your liver, alcohol consumption can prove extremely harmful.
Heavy, excessive drinking can also lead to incurable liver damage and may have a heavy impact on your overall health. This form of liver damage is also known as alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD).
While many other factors can take toll on your liver health, alcohol-related liver disease can lead to three different liver conditions namely, alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis, which can all cause extreme complications.
That said, here are some early signs to help you check your alcohol intake and to take proper measures at the right time.
1. Fatigue
As far as your liver is concerned, fatigue can be an early tell-tale symptom for the same. Irrespective of why your liver is suffering – may be due to a virus, excess alcohol consumption or an inherited disease – feeling weak and fatigued is a common sign. This may last for a long time, can be mild or may cause drastic complications.
2. Decreased or loss of appetite
Large amounts of alcohol consumption can suppress your appetite. It may make you feel nauseous, less energetic. Furthermore, due to a lack of proper nutrients and minerals in the body, it may contribute to liver cell damage.
3. Nausea
Liver disease like alcoholic hepatitis can often lead to nausea and vomiting, accompanied by abdominal tenderness and discomfort, a low-grade fever and an overall feeling of being unwell.
4. Unexplained weight loss
Given that excess alcohol consumption can cause decreased or loss of appetite, rapid, unexplained weight loss can also be a sign of liver damage from alcohol. While staying in shape and preventing obesity is key to keeping liver problems at bay, drastic change in the body weight and appearance can mean something more dangerous and concerning.
5. Swelling of the liver
Years and years of alcohol consumption can make your liver inflamed and swollen up. A common symptom of ARLD, liver swelling is prevalent in people suffering from liver damage from excess alcohol intake. This damage can further cause scarring, leading to Cirrhosis, the final stage of liver diseases.
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