Liver Cirrhosis Is One Of The Worst Complications Of Alcohol Abuse

As alcohol intake continues, the liver continues to suffer more and more damage. The extent of the toxic injury progresses to the majority of the liver tissue, and before you know it the entire liver is affected. With the chronic inflammation taking place, fibrous tissue is formed as the last stage of healing, and that fibrous tissue gives the liver an collagenous appearance, hence the name liver cirrhosis. In this condition, because almost all the liver is affected it is almost impossible for that organ to perform its function.  Protein synthesis is considerably decreased, which is why the affected person would present with systemic edema: swelling of the hands, feet, abdomen, etc. Also, portal hypertension ensues due to the compression of the portal vein in the fibrotic liver tissue. The buildup of pressure in the portal system forces blood to flow back in the area of systemic circulation where the portal vein is connected. This includes the veins of the esophagus, the umbilicus and the anal plexus. This is why patients suffering from liver cirrhosis would generally experience bleeding from the esophagus (esophageal varices), hemorrhoids (also known as piles) as well as protrusion of veins around the navel.

Brain dysfunction

Brain dysfunction is also another complication of liver cirrhosis in this setting. This is caused by the increased levels of urea released in the blood. Normally, the liver is responsible for detoxifying and processing urea, making it ready to b excreted in the urine. Henceforth, if the liver function is impaired, the blood levels of urea rise and as it crosses the blood brain barrier, it causes brain damage resulting in mental status change and confusion.

This syndrome is characterized by mental confusion, movement problems and eye problems. In this setting, vitamin B1 deficiency is caused by malnutrition that results from alcoholism.

Hepatorenal syndrome

This simply depicts kidney failure secondary to liver failure. Hepatorenal syndrome is a fatal condition that can only be treated with liver transplant or, if possible, dialysis. It is a relatively common complication of cirrhosis and occurs in 18% of cases in the first year after diagnosis and 39% of cases 5 years after diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.

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Alcoholic pancreatitis

This is the inflammation of the pancreas secondary to excessive alcohol intake. Here, the chronic consumption of alcohol causes an early release and activation of pancreatic enzymes, leading to auto digestion. As a result, the pancreas becomes inflamedand the affected person starts to experience the characteristic symptoms of pancreatitis: pain in the stomach that radiates to the back, vomiting, sweating, palpitation and pain upon palpation of the affected area.

With all that is said and done, alcohol is not the problem, but alcohol abuse is. We need to know how to draw the line between what is enough and what becomes too much, otherwise it would only be a matter of time before we get to the unfortunate point of no return.