Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
It is the major cause of liver disease in Western countries, and is the leading cause of death from excessive drinking. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Although steatosis ( fatty liver disease ) will develop in any individual who consumes a large quantity of alcoholic beverages over a long period of time, this process is transient and reversible. [ 1 ]
Symptoms may present acutely after a large amount of alcoholic intake in a short time period, or after years of excess alcohol intake. Signs and symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), fatigue and hepatic encephalopathy (brain dysfunction due to ...
Acute confusional state caused by alcohol withdrawal, otherwise known as delirium tremens. A normal liver detoxifies the blood of alcohol over a period of time that depends on the initial level and the patient's overall physical condition. An abnormal liver will take longer but still succeeds, provided the alcohol does not cause liver failure. [34]
Liver failure is the inability of the liver to perform its normal synthetic and metabolic functions as part of normal physiology. Two forms are recognised, acute and chronic (cirrhosis). [ 1 ] Recently, a third form of liver failure known as acute-on-chronic liver failure ( ACLF ) is increasingly being recognized.
Liver diseases, including conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and viral hepatitis, are significant public health concerns worldwide. In the United States, NAFLD is the most common chronic liver condition, affecting approximately 24% of the population, with the prevalence rising due ...
Acetaldehyde itself is the cause of many hangover symptoms from alcohol use. The overall effect is acute discomfort when alcohol is ingested characterized by flushing, nausea, a rapid heart rate and low blood pressure. [163] Disulfiram should not be used in those with advanced liver disease due to the risk of life-threatening liver toxicity. [163]
The cause of cirrhosis can vary; alcohol and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are main causes in western and industrialized countries, whereas viral hepatitis is the predominant cause in low and middle-income countries. [156] Cirrhosis is more common in men than in women. [158]
Alcoholic liver disease is a major public health problem. For example, in the United States up to two million people have alcohol-related liver disorders. [151] Chronic heavy alcohol consumption can cause fatty liver, cirrhosis, and alcoholic hepatitis. Treatment options are limited and consist of most importantly discontinuing alcohol consumption.