A large number of people across the UK regularly drink more than the recommended guidelines, which can result in a specific form of liver damage known as alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD)
Regular drinkers could be at risk of a ‘severe’ disease that could permanently damage their liver. Despite the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines suggesting adults should consume less than 13 units a week, spread evenly over three or more days, a significant number of Brits regularly exceed this.
NHS data reveals that 24% of people in England, 22% in Scotland, 17% in Wales, and 16% in Northern Ireland drink more than the low-risk guidelines. Drinking a lot of alcohol for an extended period can lead to a specific type of liver damage known as alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD).
One of the main dangers of ARLD is its stealthy nature; it often doesn’t show symptoms until the liver has been severely damaged. This means it’s usually detected when people are being diagnosed for a different condition or during an advanced stage of liver damage, according to NHS guidance.
The liver’s primary function is to filter toxins from the blood. It also regulates your body’s blood sugar and cholesterol levels and helps fend off infection and disease.
While the liver can regenerate itself, some cells die when filtering alcohol. Usually, it can create new cells to counteract this, but prolonged and frequent alcohol intake can hinder this regenerative ability. As a result, excessive drinking can lead to serious and irreversible liver damage.
Symptoms of ARLD
Signs of ARLD can differ significantly between individuals and might only appear during the later stages of liver deterioration.
NHS guidance explains: “ARLD does not usually cause any symptoms until the liver has been severely damaged.”
Signs of ARLD can include:
- Vomiting blood or passing blood in your stools
- Confusion or drowsiness
- Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
- Feeling sick
- Weight loss
- Swelling in the ankles and tummy
- Loss of appetite
ARLD can also develop into more serious complications, such as:
- Increased vulnerability to infection
- Liver cancer
- Build-up of toxins in the brain (encephalopathy)
- Fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites) with associated kidney failure
- Internal (variceal) bleeding
How ARLD develops and becomes more severe
The NHS highlights that ARLD can develop across three stages, although there can often be overlap between them. The first stage is ‘alcoholic fatty liver disease’, while the second is ‘alcoholic hepatitis’, and the third is ‘liver cirrhosis’.
While the first stage is reversible if you stop drinking alcohol, the second and third stages can develop into a life-threatening illness and can result in permanent damage.
Treating and preventing ARLD
Regardless of which stage of ARLD a person is experiencing, it’s always a good idea to cut down or outright stop drinking. While this will not always reverse damage done to the liver, it can help prevent any further damage from taking place and give someone a better chance of living a longer life.
NHS guidance notes that there is no specific treatment for ARLD and that if someone diagnosed with it continues to drink, there is no medical or surgical treatment that can prevent liver failure. However, this isn’t always easy, as it is believed 70% of people with ARLD have an alcohol dependency problem.
Further guidance on ARLD, as well as how you could quit drinking, can be found here.