0

0

2

0

0

2

0

0

2

In This Article

Sober solution to alcoholic hepatitis
6678

Sober solution to alcoholic hepatitis

In most cases, the treatment for alcoholic hepatitis or any alcohol-induced liver condition is to first eliminate the offending agent

In alcoholic hepatitis or any alcohol-induced liver condition, quitting alcohol is key, say doctors

On the morning of 4 July 2020, Justin L, a native of Wyoming, USA, woke up feeling sick. While he initially thought he was down with Covid, in a few days the shudders and excessive sweating progressed to excruciating pain in the stomach and the inability to walk.

The next week, Justin had debilitating nausea and dehydration. The week after that, life was starting to look blurry to him. On October 5, he was officially diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis.

“The doctor laid out my diagnosis: alcoholic hepatitis. With a dash of cirrhosis,” Justin tells Happiest Health. “We were talking possible liver transplant. The doctor said I’d have to be sober at least two years to even be considered. That left me wide-eyed. I was wishing I had more years as he was talking about liver transplants.”

Today, Justin is over two years sober, runs three miles daily and thinks he “might be in the best shape of my life”.

Dr Sonal Asthana, lead consultant, hepatobiliary & transplant surgery, Aster Hospitals, Bengaluru, says that like in Justin’s case, the treatment for alcoholic hepatitis or any alcohol-induced liver condition is to first eliminate the offending agent.

“In this case: alcohol,” he says. “The person is asked to immediately stop drinking alcohol and eliminate it completely from their lives.”

What is alcoholic hepatitis?

Dr Pankaj Puri, director of gastroenterology and hepatobiliary sciences, Fortis Escorts, Okhla, New Delhi, says that most people who drink alcohol will have fat in the liver.

“However, in some of these people, a derangement of liver function occurs, leading to an abnormal liver function test,” he says. “Liver function tests are blood tests capable of detecting the degree of damage or inflammation in the liver by checking the levels of chemicals (enzymes), proteins and other substances in the liver. There is increasing scarring and stiffness in the liver in the presence of background fats. This is what is defined as alcoholic hepatitis.”

Dr Puri says that there are chances of alcohol-related liver damage progressing to liver cirrhosis and failure, liver cancer and death.

Is alcoholic hepatitis reversible?

Dr Puri says that if detected early, it is possible to reverse alcoholic hepatitis. He adds that the need is to catch the condition before it leads to significant scarring and fibrosis. Fibrosis is an accumulation of scarred liver tissues resulting in reduced blood flow in the liver. Dr Puri says that it can also lead to the development of cirrhosis, where the scarred liver undergoes permanent damage.

“For people among whom the disease is severe and already at an advanced stage, the mortality rate is at around 50 per cent,” he says.

Dr Asthana, while agreeing that it is possible for people to fully recover from alcoholic hepatitis if the condition is identified and treated on time, says that it would depend on the degree of damage the liver has previously suffered.

“Alcohol can damage the liver in multiple facets,” he says. “One of the most common forms of alcohol-induced liver damage is when people drink steady amounts of alcohol for long periods of time, which can cause ongoing damage and fibrosis (scarring) of the liver. Some of these people may not show any symptoms of liver disease until it reaches a late stage of liver damage.”

The second type of commonly seen case, especially among young adults, says Dr Asthana, is binge drinking, marked by the consumption of a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time — a weekend, for instance. “Binge drinking can also cause significant damage to the liver and cause inflammation,” he says.

Diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis

Dr Puri says that people who engage in regular alcohol intake over a long period of time may exhibit some markers of alcoholism such as:

  • Spider angioma (small, red or purple marks on the surface of the skin)
  • Fiery red palms, also known as palmar erythema
  • Symptoms of jaundice
  • Abnormal liver function seen in the blood test
  • Fat in the liver seen during an ultrasound
  • Stiffness of the liver found during a fibroscan (a type of ultrasound that can measure liver stiffness).

“People who binge-drink, meanwhile, may present with deep jaundice, swelling in the feet and the abdomen,” he says. “The ultrasound is going to show fluid and fat in the liver.”

Severe alcoholic hepatitis is defined by a combination of tests through which people can be scored. “One of the common ways to score is the Maddrey score,” says Dr Puri. “There is also the Glasgow score, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. We can look at these scores to understand how severe the disease is. People with severe disease have a high mortality rate and would require more extensive therapy.”

According to Dr Puri, those who have comorbidities, are obese and have underlying fatty liver disease, with associated hepatitis B and C, are more prone to developing alcohol-related liver damage.

Treatment and recovery

Justin says a sober friend supported him through the process of recovery.

“She really listened,” he says. “She really understood and steered me into more Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) rooms.” AA is a fellowship of men and women who help each other with their common problem with alcoholism.

Justin began attending AA meetings a few times a week. He also adopted a fitness routine to keep himself busy on the days he wasn’t attending the meetings. “Things started to change without me realising it,” he says.

About his life today, Justin says, “I keep a very balanced diet. I try to meditate daily. I attend AA meetings almost every day. I am working in the field I love and went to university for the same. I am financially stable. I often travel. I see friends weekly, if not daily. I show up for my family. I answer phone calls and texts. And I listen.”

Justin says AA helped him realize he doesn’t have to be alone in addiction. “You don’t have to carry yourself like a monster,” he says. “It’s a victory, not a blemish.”

Takeaways

  • If detected early, it is possible to reverse alcoholic hepatitis.
  • In alcoholic hepatitis or any alcohol-induced liver condition, quitting alcohol is the key.

Share Your Experience/Comments

2 Responses

  1. 3 times entroscopy, and now liver enlargement, stomach pain and sconstipation. Please give me remedy.

    1. Thank you for your query. However, we at Happiest Health do not give any medical consultation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Summit Registration

NOTE: The summit will be held at NIMHANS Convention Centre, Bengaluru.

Wellness Registration Form

-
-
-
Total Amount INR 3000
Trending

Articles

Article
Some couples consciously decide not to have children despite familial and social expectations, wanting to make the best of their relationship. Children should be had for their own sake, says psychotherapist Tasneem Nakhoda
Article
Insufficient consumption of heart-healthy foods can affect cardiovascular health. Experts discuss beneficial dietary choices
Article
Cycling and walking are both great cardiovascular activities that aid weight loss and keep various health conditions away. Pick one that suits your fitness goals and physical condition, say experts
Article
The risk of heart attacks and strokes for middle-aged, overweight people with high blood pressure is 35 percent higher compared to those with a healthy body weight 
Article
Summer drinks, though hydrating, can have excess sugar. Nutritionists suggest a few alternatives to keep the body temperature and sugar levels down
Article
Packed with protein, this recipe will help in weight management by keeping you full for a long time
Trending

Articles

Article
Some couples consciously decide not to have children despite familial and social expectations, wanting to make the best of their relationship. Children should be had for their own sake, says psychotherapist Tasneem Nakhoda
Article
Insufficient consumption of heart-healthy foods can affect cardiovascular health. Experts discuss beneficial dietary choices
Article
Cycling and walking are both great cardiovascular activities that aid weight loss and keep various health conditions away. Pick one that suits your fitness goals and physical condition, say experts

0

0

2

Web Stories 

0

0

2

0

0

2

Opt-in To Our Daily Healthzine

A potion of health & wellness delivered daily to your inbox

Personal stories and insights from doctors, plus practical tips on improving your happiness quotient

Opt-in To Our Daily Healthzine

A potion of health & wellness delivered daily to your inbox

Personal stories and insights from doctors, plus practical tips on improving your happiness quotient
We use cookies to customize your user experience, view our policy here

Your feedback has been submitted successfully.

The Happiest Health team will reach out to you at the earliest