Alcohol-induced hepatitis occurs when the liver becomes irritated and then inflamed due to the use – or perhaps the over use – of alcohol. Alcohol-induced hepatitis, which most people just refer to as alcoholic hepatitis, is different from cirrhosis of the liver, which is also frequently caused by alcohol abuse. They’re not the same.. But hepatitis brought on by alcohol use is considered to be an early stage of alcoholic liver disease.
Not all heavy drinkers get hepatitis brought on by alcohol use. Interestingly, some individuals who are experience hepatitis brought on by alcohol use, don’t really drink much.
It is possible to recover from hepatitis brought on by alcohol use if you stop using alcohol. But when you have this disorder, if you don’t quit drinking, it seriously increases the risk of cirrhosis and liver failure. Once your liver is no longer able to function, getting a liver transplant is the only way you can survive.
Researchers have not been able to find out the definite connection between alcohol and hepatitis, although there are a variety of possibilities. It’s clear that when you drink alcohol, some toxic chemicals are secreted by the liver. These substances result in irritation, and the end result is inflammation. This causes the destruction of healthy liver tissue, which is replaced by scar tissue. The medical name for this scarring process is cirrhosis, which is considered to be the ultimate stage of alcoholic liver disease.
It’s also not known why some individuals who drink heavily fail to get hepatitis brought on by alcohol use or cirrhosis, while other people who just imbibe moderately do This circumstance leads scientists to hypothesize that factors other than the use of alcohol can affect who winds up with the disorder. Heredity may perhaps also play a role.
If you already suffer from liver disease, and you continue to drink, almost certainly have a higher chance of developing hepatitis brought on by alcohol use. This is especially true if you have hemochromotosis. Hemochromotosis is a disorder in which high levels of iron accumulate in the body.
Nutrition and diet may well also have some bearing on who gets hepatitis brought on by alcohol use. Individuals who are heavy drinkers often eat poorly, and will sometimes drink when they should eat. Food doesn’t digest as efficiently when there’s alcohol in the stomach. This may cause damage to liver cells and tissue.
There are no symptoms in the early stages of hepatitis brought on by alcohol use. But as the disease progresses, symptoms make themselves known. Symptoms vary from one patient to another but often discomfort and pain in the lower stomach and abdomen is typical, along with a condition called ascites, which is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal area. Abnormal thirst is typical too.
Constant fatigue, weakness and dizziness are often accompanied by cognitive problems along with moments of confusion. Occasional fever and vomiting, sometimes with blood, may occur.
Even though individuals with hepatitis caused by alcohol experiences a general loss of appetite, they are likely to gain weight.
A yellowish tint may appear in the skin and the whites of the eyes. This may indicate jaundice, a telltale sign of a liver problem.
Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis in all likelihood, will get worse if you eat a lot of alcohol in a brief amount of time, or indulge in binge drinking.
Someone experiencing these symptoms should visit their medical professional as soon as possible because hepatitis caused by alcohol may lead to a series of critical medical conditions, including gastrointestinal bleeding.
To learn more about alcoholic hepatitis causes and hepatitis, click on causes of alcohol-induced hepatitis and what causes hepatitis
