Alcoholic Fatty Liver

The fatty liver disease is a condition when fats accumulate in the liver due to several reasons. It is also considered as one of the most common conditions experienced by people, mostly in the developed nations. Fatty liver can be of two types: alcoholic fatty disease and non-alcoholic fatty disease. It is often found that the two terms are used interchangeably, which is incorrect. These two are diverse terms for different conditions caused due to different causes. Non alcoholic fatty liver is caused due to disorders in the process of metabolism. Whereas, alcoholic fatty liver is caused due to excess consumption of alcohol. Let us take a look at alcoholic fatty liver causes and symptoms in detail.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Symptoms and Causes

One must be aware that alcohol causes several health hazards. The liver is most affected on consuming alcohol for a longer period of time. When a person consumes excess amounts of alcohol, his liver gets damaged. Consumption of alcohol alters several functions of the liver resulting in alcoholic fatty liver disease. Excess intake of alcohol increases the synthesis of free fatty acid, which leads to deposition of fats in the liver. On the other hand, alcohol also changes or disturbs mitochondrial and microsomal function of the liver. Alcoholic fatty liver symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, jaundice, loss of appetite, etc. If alcohol induced fatty liver persists for a longer period of time, it can lead to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis is also one of the conditions that develops from alcoholic fatty liver if left undetected and untreated. Therefore, it is essential to get the condition diagnosed and treated immediately. Let us take a look at the treatment methods of this condition.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Treatment

If one observes any of the above mentioned symptoms which are caused due to excess consumption of alcohol, he / she should consult the doctor immediately. One of the most important thing to note is that this condition is reversible and can be effectively treated if detected early. The ultrasound examination is used for the diagnosis of this condition. Complete abstinence from alcohol is the only efficient method of getting rid of this condition. Secondly, the person should either stop drinking alcohol completely or reduce its intake in future in order to prevent the recurrence of this condition. On the other hand, one needs to follow a diet regularly as a part of alcoholic fatty liver treatment and cure. One should abstain from having excess calorie containing foods like non vegetarian foods (meat and eggs), fried and processed foods in the fatty liver diet. Instead, one should have a diet comprising vegetables and fruits, as they do not contain excess unwanted calories. It is also advisable to get rid of obesity and reduce weight for alcoholic fatty liver cure. It is possible to reduce weight by following a diet and exercising regularly. There are also medications and natural herbs that help in treating this condition. If you are wondering what is the alcoholic fatty liver recovery time, then it is around 24 weeks. However, one should note that complete recovery in this time is possible only if one stops drinking alcohol completely and follows the diet strictly. Hence, these can also be termed as the preventive measures to be followed to avoid this condition from recurring.

This was brief information on the causes, symptoms and treatment methods of alcoholic fatty liver. One should be aware of the harmful consequences of having excess alcohol and reduce its consumption or abstain from having it completely, in order to prevent the alcoholic liver diseases. Take care!