(See Core articles on screening and assessment and treatment. For practice guidance on diagnosing and treating ALD, see Resources below). AUD and alcohol use increase the risk of various health complications. These complications affect several bodily systems, including the GI, neurological, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems.
Brain/Memory
Mental confusion and difficulty concentrating may long term effects of alcohol signal that toxins are affecting brain function. Many patients report intense itching throughout the body, along with easy bruising and bleeding from even minor injuries. To this end, Yang and Luo 26 review the role of ethanol-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress on neurotoxicity. Cirrhosis is a disease in which normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue, which interferes with all of these important functions.
Alcohol’s Impact on Specific Organs
It’s important to note that any amount of alcohol in your system can interfere with your ability to think and function without impairment. However, when researchers evaluate these potential factors, the risks outweigh any benefits. While you may experience euphoria or relaxation at first, in the long run, alcohol affects neurotransmitters, which can lead to changes in your thoughts, moods, and behavior. Drinking alcohol can influence your psychological functioning and well-being. Liver cancer carries a poor prognosis when diagnosed at advanced stages, making prevention through alcohol reduction or abstinence crucial.
- By Geralyn Dexter, PhD, LMHCDexter has a doctorate in psychology and is a licensed mental health counselor with a focus on suicidal ideation, self-harm, and mood disorders.
- For those who recover, long-term survival depends on quitting alcohol for good.
- Since liver is a primary site of ethanol metabolism and liver cells are susceptible to alcohol-induced damage, several articles in this special issue are on the effects of alcohol in promoting liver injury.
- Damaged liver cells attempt to regenerate in an inflammatory environment, creating a cycle of damage and repair that increases the likelihood of DNA mutations.
Liver Transplantation: A Last Resort
When drinking continues after fatty liver develops, alcoholic hepatitis often follows. This serious inflammatory condition ranges from mild to life-threatening and indicates the liver is actively being damaged. During this time, doctors watch for alcohol withdrawal, infections, and any nutrition problems. Supportive care is also essential for managing related conditions like fatty liver disease, which can improve with proper nutrition and lifestyle changes. Alcoholic hepatitis is a condition that happens when the liver gets irritated and damaged from alcohol abuse over a long period. The liver is an essential organ that helps remove toxins, creates proteins our bodies need, and aids digestion.
The review “Update on Alcoholic Hepatitis” by Torok 15 presents recent advances in the diagnosis, pathogenesis of alcoholic hepatitis and novel treatment strategies. Although reactive oxygen species are thought to have a significant role in ethanol-induced hepatocellular damage, they may have a less important role in the inability of hepatocytes to replace dead or damaged cells. Finally, the review article by Gitto et al. 18 discusses the usefulness of psychosocial support in the management of people affected by alcohol. Since liver is a primary site of ethanol metabolism and liver cells are susceptible to alcohol-induced damage, several articles in this special issue are on the effects of alcohol in promoting liver injury.
Complications affecting multiple body systems
With proper attention and care, this vital organ can continue performing its essential functions for a lifetime. Taking action before severe symptoms appear offers the best chance for recovery. Even patients with early cirrhosis can experience significant improvement in quality of life by eliminating alcohol completely. While stopping alcohol use can slow progression, the structural changes of advanced cirrhosis cannot be reversed. Many patients eventually require liver transplantation when the organ can no longer sustain life.
- Researched, fact-checked and transparent articles and guides that offer addiction and mental health insight from experts and treatment professionals.
- If your goal is cardiovascular health, it’s best to make other healthy habits a part of your lifestyle.
- Though it can develop gradually, alcoholic hepatitis might appear suddenly in some people, even when they didn’t know they had any liver issues 1.
In extreme cases, Alcoholics Anonymous the damage is so severe that the only solution is a liver transplant. The symptoms of fibrosis often remain subtle, with many people experiencing chronic fatigue and weakness that persists despite adequate rest. Digestive problems and nutrient deficiencies commonly develop as liver function decreases. Many patients also notice unexplained weight changes as the organ struggles to process nutrients properly.