29 August 2023 , 11:46
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A "silent disease" - the consequence of build-up of fats in the liver often caused by excessive drinking - has few or no symptoms, a doctor warned today.
More than 5,000 people in England alone died prematurely from alcohol-related liver disease in 2021, latest statistics revealed. When liver cells get inflamed or damaged, often by the consumption of alcohol, toxins develop on the organ.
It can lead to some serious complications, including alcoholic fatty liver disease. Dr Scot Thomas, a medic with experience in this specialism, said: "For many people, fatty liver disease could point to signs of alcohol abuse or addiction."
A man has a pain in the right side of his abdomen (Getty Images/iStockphoto)The medical expert also highlighted those at most risk - "heavy drinkers who are obese, women, or [those who] have certain genetic mutations." He told Express.co.uk: "Alcoholic fatty liver disease is usually a silent disease with few or no symptoms."
There are though, he said, some signs which do indicate alcohol-related liver disease, and these include;
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- Fatigue
Aches in the upper right side of the abdomen
Feeling sick
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
The liver, one of the most complex organs in the body, filters toxins from the blood, aids the digestion of food, regulates blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and helps fight infection and disease.
So, when significant volumes of booze are consumed, the liver works harder to filter the alcohol. It causes some cells in the liver to die, and makes it prone to infection and fatty liver disease.
The NHS recommends drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread across three days or more. That's around six medium (175ml) glasses of wine, or six pints of four per cent beer.
In the UK, binge drinking is drinking more than:
- Eight units of alcohol in a single session for men
- Six units of alcohol in a single session for women
Anyone who drinks heavily for months or years puts themselves at risk for alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fortunately, those who stop drinking completely can reverse the condition with the help of healthy lifestyle changes.