Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcohol consumption can be very unhealthy, especially if it is consumed in excess. After years of drinking alcohol on a regular basis, alcoholic liver disease is quite common. However, there are ways that you can treat and prevent the disease if you are aware of the ways to preserve your health.

There are a few types of alcoholic liver disease, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis. Fatty liver is what occurs after acute alcohol consumption, but the condition can be reversed by simply abstaining from alcohol--after a few weeks, the body will start to heal itself. Also, if this form of liver disease is treated by making better lifestyle choices, the patient will not usually be at any risk for a more chronic condition in the future.

Alcoholic hepatitis is a different type of alcoholic liver disease, in that it is an acute form of alcohol induced liver injury. The injuries can vary in severity, ranging from minor damage that occurs from a poor diet, or failure of the liver. This alcoholic liver disease usually develops in individuals that have been drinking large amounts of alcohol for a long period of time. A rigorous rehabilitation program that involves a diet in foods that are rich in iron, as well as a well-planned regimen for staying away from alcohol should be followed to treat or manage this condition.

Cirrhosis, which is the most chronic form of alcoholic liver disease, and involves the replacement of the parenchyma that is normally found in the liver with hazardous fibrous tissue or regenerative nodules. This leads to liver failure that is is very hard to recover from, and for some patients, it is impossible to recover.

The chances of contracting alcoholic liver disease are dependent on a number of factors, include genetics and environmental factors. If you know that you have a predisposition toward alcoholism, you should make sure that you have your liver and kidneys checked often, and that you are carefully monitoring the amount of alcohol you consume on a weekly or monthly basis. Environmental factors can include the availability of alcohol in your area, and the social connotations that may be associated with alcohol in your family or work circle. For instance, if you are constantly going to company parties or social events where alcohol is being served, it will automatically be much easier for you to drink if you are already predisposed to liver conditions or alcoholism.

If you want to know more about alcoholic liver disease, or want to get some questions together for your next doctor's visit, you can log onto sites like www.nidh.org or www.emedicine.net for helpful tips that will assist you in preserving your health.