Heavy drinking can inflict severe harm on your liver. Cirrhosis is perhaps the most widely recognized type of alcohol-related liver disease, but itโs not the only one. To better understand how alcohol affects the liver, itโs important to know what is alcoholic hepatitis.
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What Is Alcoholic Hepatitis?ย
Alcoholic hepatitis is a serious, potentially life-threatening form of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). It is sometimes also referred to as alcohol-induced hepatitis, alcohol-related hepatitis, and alcohol-associated hepatitis.ย ย
Resulting from chronic, long-term alcohol use, alcoholic hepatitis is characterized by an inflammation of the liver, which can degrade the organโs ability to filter toxins from the bloodstream.
Causes and Risk Factors
The primary cause of alcoholic hepatitis is the excessive consumption of alcohol over an extended period of time. But not everyone who drinks heavily develops this condition.ย
Other factors that can increase a personโs risk of developing alcoholic hepatitis include:
- Certain genetic variations
- Gender (alcoholic hepatitis is more common among women than among men)
- Race and ethnicity (studies suggest that Black and Hispanic people may be more likely to develop this condition.
- Having other chronic liver conditions, such as hepatitis C
- Frequent binge drinking
- Poor nutrition
- Obesity (additional weight can place greater strain the liver)
Symptoms
Someone who is in the earliest stages of alcoholic hepatitis may experience no symptoms whatsoever. As the condition progresses, though, typical signs include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigueย
- Abdominal pain
- Diminished appetite and resultant unintentional weight loss
If a person doesnโt take appropriate action after noticing these early signs, the progression of alcoholic hepatitis can result in more severe symptoms, such as:
- Jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and the sclera (the white part of the eye that surrounds the pupil)
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Fever
- Cognitive impairments due to buildup of toxins in the bloodstream
- Intensifying fatigue and weakness
Effects
In addition to experiencing the symptoms listed above, someone who doesnโt get proper treatment for alcoholic hepatitis may also develop:
- Ascites (fluid buildup on the abdomen)
- Infections
- Internal bleeding
- Portal hypertension
- Liver cancer
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Liver failure
Without proper care, alcoholic hepatitis can lead to death. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has reported the following about alcohol, liver disease, and death in the United States:
- In 2023, 96,610 people ages 12 and above died as a result of liver disease. Alcohol was a factor in 44.5% of these cases (43,005 deaths).
- Studies indicate that 20%-40% of people who are diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis are likely to die within three months of their diagnosis.
- Only about 30% of people who are diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis will respond to treatment involving corticosteroids.
- Since 2016, alcoholic liver disease has been the main reason for liver transplants in the U.S.
What Are the Stages of Alcoholic Liver Disease?
Alcoholic hepatitis is the second stage of alcoholic liver disease. It is preceded by steatosis, which was previously referred to as fatty liver disease. If not properly treated, it can progress to cirrhosis.
1. Steatosis (Fatty Liver Disease)
Processing any amount of alcohol takes a toll on your liver, including cell death. If you only engage in moderate infrequent alcohol use, your liver can repair itself with limited risk of long-term damage. However, prolonged heavy drinking can prevent your liver from performing vital repairs, resulting in the buildup of fat cells throughout the organ. This is know as steatosis.
At the steatosis stage, you are unlikely to experience any functional problems or distressing symptoms. If you stop drinking and make other necessary changes, you can reverse the fatty buildup and improve your liver health. But if you continue to drink, the damage can progress to alcoholic hepatitis.
2. Alcoholic Hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis begins with an inflammation of the liver, which can progress to sustained swelling, increased cell death, and the formation of scar tissue.
If you quit drinking while in the early phase of alcoholic hepatitis, you may be able to reverse the damage. However, if you donโt take the necessary steps, at some point the harm will become irreversible. Quitting drinking at that point may be able to prevent further destruction, while taking no action can increase your risk of cirrhosis, liver failure, and death.
3. Cirrhosis
As the final stage of alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis is characterized by permanent scarring and impaired functioning. You may be able to arrest progression of the disease if you stop drinking at this point, but it is highly unlikely that you will be able to reverse any of the damage that your liver has already incurred.
Certain types of medication may mitigate some of the effects of cirrhosis, and certain diet and lifestyle changes can also have a beneficial impact. If you allow this condition to progress without taking action, you may eventually get to the point where the only effective treatment option is liver transplant.
Can Alcoholic Hepatitis Be Prevented?
The best ways to prevent alcoholic hepatitis is to never drink alcohol, or to only drink infrequently and in moderation.
If your drinking has already caused steatosis, complete cessation of alcohol use may stop the progression of your alcoholic liver disease before it progresses to alcoholic hepatitis.ย
If you are not able to quit drinking, even with the knowledge that doing so is the only way to prevent continued liver damage, you should speak to your doctor or schedule an assessment with a reputable addiction rehab center near you.
Alcohol use disorder (which is the clinical term for alcohol addiction) is a chronic, progressive disease that can have a devastating impact on your health. In addition to being the main cause of alcoholic liver disease, compulsive alcohol use has also been linked with:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Respiratory distress
- Wasting of the muscles
- Pancreatitis
- Reduced bone density
- Stroke
- Cancers of the colon, rectum, breast, esophagus, and oral cavity
When you get appropriate treatment for alcohol addiction, you can reduce your risk of these and many other negative outcomes. In treatment, you can also develop the skills and strategies that will empower you to resist future urges to drink, so that you can build a healthier and more hopeful future for yourself in recovery.
Learn More About Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Georgia
Serenity Grove is a premier provider of customized treatment for adults whose lives have been disrupted to addictions to alcohol and other drugs. We also offer dual diagnosis services for patients who have been living with anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
The continuum of care at our alcohol rehab in Athens, GA, includes detox, residential treatment, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an outpatient program (OP). In each of these programs, you can expect to receive focused treatment and comprehensive support from a team of highly skilled and deeply compassionate professionals.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
