In today ‘ s society, drinking is more common in social and daily life. However, overdrinking could cause a serious health problem — alcohol liver disease. Alcoholic liver disease, like a hidden “time bomb”, poses a great threat to liver health and requires great vigilance.
When alcohol enters the human body, it is mostly metabolized in the liver. The ethanol dehydrase and acetylene dehydrase in the liver can gradually decompose alcohol into a non-hazardous substance. However, chronic alcohol consumption can overburden the liver, and alcohol and its metabolite acetaldehyde can cause direct toxic damage to liver cells. Acetaldehyde can be combined with large molecular substances, such as proteins and nucleic acids within hepatocellular cells, forming additives, disrupting normal metabolism and functioning of hepatic cells, leading to hepatic cell fatty variability, inflammation and necrosis, leading to alcohol hepatitis disease.
The development of alcohol hepatitis is usually a gradual process, initially manifested in alcohol fatty liver. At this point in time, there is a gradual increase in the accumulation of fat in liver cells, but patients often have no visible symptoms or are easily overlooked in the form of mild upper-right abdominal discomfort, powerlessness and appetite. As the disease continues to develop, progress will be towards alcohol hepatitis, at a time when the response to inflammation increases, patients may experience symptoms such as heat, yellow salivation (skin and muscular yellowing, increased urine color), pain in the liver, vomiting, and a marked increase in liver function indicators such as caramase, chlamyrin, etc. If alcohol abuse continues, the disease will continue to deteriorate and develop into cirrhosis of the alcoholic liver. Hepatic tissues are gradually replaced by fibre tissues, hepatics are hardened, deformed, normal structures are destroyed, and the function of the liver is seriously affected, with serious complications such as abdominal water, digestive haemorrhage, liver cerebral disease and even life-threatening conditions.
Diagnosis of alcohol hepatitis requires a combination of multiple factors. The doctor first asked for details about the patient ‘ s history of drinking, including the type, quantity, frequency and length of drinking. In general, men drink more than 40 grams of ethanol per day, women more than 20 grams and more than five years of continuous alcohol consumption, which is at high risk of alcohol hepatitis. Medical examinations may reveal signs of hepatic swelling and physical hardening. Laboratory examinations are an important basis for diagnosis, with abnormal manifestations such as increased aminosterase, cholesterol, gamma-diaaminomide, etc. common in liver function. In addition, photographic examinations of the liver, such as ultrasound, CT, MRI etc. can observe changes in liver morphology and structure, such as immersion of liver fat, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, etc., and help to diagnose and assess the severity of the condition. In some cases, hepatic biopsy is also necessary, and pathological examinations provide a critical basis for accurate diagnosis and the development of individualized treatment programmes by identifying the specific type and extent of liver damage.
The key to preventing alcohol liver disease is to stop drinking. It is even more urgent for people already suffering from alcohol-related liver diseases to stop drinking, which, regardless of the stage of the disease, can significantly improve the post-mortem situation of the liver. In terms of diet, the principle of a balanced diet should be followed, with more nutrient-rich foods, such as fresh vegetables, fruits, skinny meat, fish, beans, etc., which contribute to the repair and regeneration of liver cells. At the same time, care should be taken to rest, avoid overwork, maintain good living patterns and reduce the burden on the liver. Appropriate exercise is also beneficial to physical health, but it is important to avoid intense physical activity that increases the liver burden.
For the treatment of alcohol hepatitis, the fat degenerative behaviour of the liver may be gradually reversed and the liver function is expected to return to normal after a minor patient has stopped drinking and adjusted his lifestyle. In addition to alcohol and cirrhosis interventions, drug treatment may be required for patients with more severe cases. Drug treatment includes, inter alia, hepatitis, anti-inflammation and anti-fibrosis, and specific treatment programmes need to be developed by a doctor depending on the patient ‘ s condition. In cases of serious complications, such as abdominal water, digestive haemorrhage, etc., there is also a need for appropriate treatment for complications, such as urine, blood stoppage, endoscopy, etc., which may require liver transplants if necessary.
Alcoholic liver disease is a serious health problem, and we should be fully aware of the dangers of overdrinking, and develop the right perception of drinking, as well as the right amount of drinking or sobering, to protect our liver health. If there are symptoms associated with alcohol-related liver disease, they should be treated in a timely manner, with active cooperation to prevent further deterioration, be responsible for their health and enjoy a healthy and healthy life.
Alcoholic liver disease
