Some people also have a genetic predisposition to alcohol-related liver injury. People with a medical condition, especially those affecting the liver, may have a higher risk of damage from alcohol. If you already have hepatitis B or C, or cirrhosis of the liver from any cause , you are at risk of making your condition worse if you drink alcohol.
Hepatitis is a general term meaning inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis is hepatitis caused by a virus like the hepatitis B or C virus. Chronic hepatitis C is a common cause of liver cirrhosis. Hepatitis B can also cause cirrhosis. With either of these conditions, you increase your risk of developing cirrhosis if you drink alcohol. It now affects about 20 per cent of Australians. It is becoming more common in children who are overweight or obese. NAFLD can lead to inflammation of the liver and the formation of scar tissue, a condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis NASH , which can then lead to cirrhosis of the liver.
NASH usually occurs in people who are obese, have diabetes or have high blood cholesterol and triglycerides, so controlling these conditions is recommended. The effect of alcohol is debated, but it is probably not recommended if there is significant liver scarring present. Some inherited conditions damage the liver and this leads to the scarring that can contribute to cirrhosis.
These conditions include:. Without medical treatment, cirrhosis of the liver can lead to a range of potentially life-threatening complications including:.
Cirrhosis of the liver is incurable but, in some cases, treatment can help to reduce the likelihood that the condition will become worse. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. An alkaline phosphatase level test can help identify health concerns in your liver, gallbladder, and more.
Lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk for fatty liver disease and damage. Learn what 10 foods you should eat and what 6 foods to avoid. Fatty liver disease is best managed with lifestyle changes. Some of the best methods include weight loss, limiting sugar, and drinking coffee. Learn about the relationship between perimenopause and depression. Discover the links between mood swings, depression, and fluctuating levels of…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
What Are the Stages of Liver Failure? Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Failure vs. Liver failure vs. Stages of liver failure.
Causes of liver failure. Symptoms of acute liver failure. Symptoms of chronic liver failure. Diagnosing liver failure. What are the treatment options for liver failure? Preventing liver failure. Liver Function Tests. The balloon is inflated. This places pressure on the varices and stops the bleeding.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt TIPSS : If the therapies mentioned above do not stem the bleeding, a metal tube is passed across the liver to join the portal and hepatic veins, creating a new route for the blood to flow through. This reduces the pressure that was causing the varices. Infections: The patient will be given antibiotics for any infections that arise. Screening for liver cancer: Patients with cirrhosis have a much higher risk of developing liver cancer.
The doctor may recommend regular blood tests and imaging scans. Hepatic encephalopathy, or high blood toxin levels: Drugs can help treat excessive blood toxin levels.
In some cases, the damage caused by cirrhosis covers most of the liver and cannot be reversed. In these cases, the person may need a new, transplanted liver. It can take time to find a suitable donor, and this procedure is often advised only as a last resort. A year follow-up study of people in Norway with severe alcoholic cirrhosis showed that 71 percent of the people in the study had died within 5 years of diagnosis.
The mortality rate 15 years after diagnosis was 90 percent. Continued alcohol consumption and advanced age were linked to a higher mortality rate in people with cirrhosis. This is a limited study, but it shows that cirrhosis is a serious condition that severely reduces life expectancy and impairs quality of living.
Cirrhosis is responsible for 12 deaths in every , members of the United States population. Cirrhosis is graded on a scale called the Childs-Pugh score as follows:. Doctors also classify cirrhosis as either compensated or decompensated. Compensated cirrhosis means that the liver can function normally despite the damage. A liver with decompensated cirrhosis cannot perform its functions correctly and usually causes severe symptoms.
Rather than being viewed in terms of its own stages, cirrhosis is often seen as a final stage of liver disease. Hepatitis B and C together are said to be the leading causes of cirrhosis. Other causes include:. Toxins, including alcohol, are broken down by the liver.
However, if the amount of alcohol is too high, the liver will be overworked, and liver cells can eventually become damaged. Heavy, regular, long-term drinkers are much more likely to develop cirrhosis, compared with other, healthy people.
The liver Open pop-up dialog box Close. The liver The liver is your largest internal organ. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name. Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Feldman M, et al. Other diseases of the colon. Elsevier; Accessed Jan. Feldman M, et al. Overview of cirrhosis. Kellerman RD, et al. In: Conn's Current Therapy Goldberg E, et al. Cirrhosis in adults: Overview of complications, general management, and prognosis.
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