According to Greek mythology, Prometheus was punished by Zeus for giving fire to humans. He chained him and sent an eagle to feed on his liver. Each night, the liver was renewed and each day, the eagle returned to its feast. Does the liver really recover so quickly and easily?
What happens to the liver when alcohol is given up
The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body. It is needed for hundreds of bodily processes, including fighting toxins such as alcohol. Since it is the first organ that "sees" the alcohol that has been drunk, it is not surprising that it is the most susceptible to its effects. However, other organs, including the brain and heart, can also be damaged by long-term alcohol use.
As a hepatologist, Professor Ashwin Danda from the University of Plymouth sees people with alcohol-related liver disease every day. There is a whole spectrum of diseases – ranging from fat deposition in the liver (fatty liver) to scarring (cirrhosis) – and there are usually no symptoms until the final stages of damage occur.
At first, alcohol makes the liver fatty. This fat causes liver inflammation. In response, the liver tries to heal itself, and scar tissue forms. If this continues unchecked, the entire liver can become a network of scars with small islands of "good" liver in between - cirrhosis.
In the late stages of cirrhosis, when the liver has failed, people may turn yellow (jaundice), swell with fluid, and become sleepy and disoriented. This is a very serious condition and can be fatal, he reports RTS.
In any case, a break will come in handy for the liver to recover
Most people who regularly drink more than the recommended limit - of 14 units of alcohol per week (about six bottles (0,5 litres) of normal strength beer (4% alcohol) or about six average (175ml) glasses of wine (14% alcohol) - will have fatty Long-term and heavy alcohol use increases the risk of scarring and cirrhosis.
Good news
Fortunately, there is good news, notes Professor Danda. In people with fatty liver, after only two to three weeks of abstinence from alcohol, the liver can heal and look and function like new.
In people with liver inflammation or mild scarring, even within seven days of giving up alcohol, there is a noticeable reduction in liver fat, inflammation and scarring. Stopping alcohol for a few months allows the liver to heal and return to normal.
In severe alcoholics with more severe scarring or liver failure, abstinence over several years reduces the chances of liver failure and death. However, heavy drinkers can become physically dependent on alcohol and suddenly stopping drinking can cause a withdrawal crisis.
That is why it is recommended that they seek the advice of a doctor on how to safely get rid of alcohol addiction.
Other benefits
Quitting drinking also has a positive effect on sleep, brain function and blood pressure.
Avoiding alcohol for long periods also reduces the risk of several types of cancer (including liver, pancreatic and colon cancer) and the risk of heart disease and stroke.
However, alcohol is not the only cause of ill health. Quitting it has many health benefits and should be seen as part of a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise.
So, notes the hepatologist, if we go back to the myth of Prometheus, the liver has an incredible power to regenerate itself, but it cannot regrow as a new one, if it has already been severely scarred.
If you stop drinking and only have fatty liver, it can quickly return to normal. If you had liver scarring (cirrhosis) to begin with, stopping alcohol will allow healing and improved function, but it cannot undo all the damage that has already been done.
If you want to take care of your liver, drink in moderation and have two to three alcohol-free days each week. That way, you won't have to rely on the magical self-healing power of the liver to stay healthy, recommends Prof. Danda.
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