Liver cirrhosis – also known as shriveled liver – is a serious disease of the organ. Long-term and excessive alcohol consumption is the most common cause of cirrhosis of the liver.
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What is cirrhosis of the liver?
Liver cirrhosis is a severe liver disease that has serious consequences for the entire organism and causes disturbances in the metabolism or hormonal balance. In cirrhosis of the liver, the organ’s tissue is severely scarred, damaged, and converted into connective tissue. The liver loses size and is no longer able to break down pollutants and detoxify the body.
Liver cirrhosis develops slowly and often remains undetected for a long time, since there are few or no symptoms at the beginning of the disease. In an advanced course of the disease, non-specific symptoms such as tiredness, yellowish discolored skin, mucous membranes and eyes and fluid accumulation in the abdomen occur. Cirrhosis of the liver is irreparable and cannot be cured. However, its progression can be slowed down.
This is how alcohol attacks our liver
One of the most common causes of liver cirrhosis is excessive alcohol consumption over many years . Because the organ breaks down the toxins in the alcohol – which is not without consequences: alcohol disrupts the normal liver function and the chemical balance of the organ. The result: Liver cells are destroyed or changed. The effects of alcohol (ethanol) and its breakdown products acetaldehyde and acetate damage the liver tissue and initially cause the organ to become fatty. At this stage, the liver can still recover. Consume fatty liver– Patients, however, continue to drink alcohol, the liver can become inflamed (alcoholic hepatitis) and silently lead to cirrhosis, the damage to which is irreparable. Affected people should not consume alcohol at this stage in order to delay the course of the disease. If left untreated, the disease is fatal. In order to detect possible liver damage in good time, you should have your liver values checked regularly.
Above this amount, alcohol damages our liver
A liver-damaging effect of alcohol begins in women with frequent consumption of more than 20 grams and in men more than 40 grams a day.
However, liver damage can also occur below this limit. Incidentally, excessive amounts of acetaldehyde are responsible for the well-known hangover the next day. Acetaldehyde constricts blood vessels, causing headaches .
Important: You should always regard alcoholic beverages as a luxury and only consume them in moderation. It is healthiest to live completely without alcohol.
You can find out more about this topic here: No alcohol for 30 days – this is what happens in the body >>
Alcohol also attacks other organs
Not only the liver, but also our other organs are damaged by excessive alcohol consumption. When you drink alcohol, the stress hormones cortisol and norepinephrine are released. These lead to increased blood pressure. In the long term, high blood pressure promotes numerous heart diseases such as arteriosclerosis and thus an increased risk of heart attacks. Excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time is harmful to the health of our kidneys and, in serious cases, can lead to chronic kidney failure.
