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Most tertiary care hospitals in Goa record around 300 deaths, of which 30 per cent are caused due to excessive intake of alcohol
The Goa Medical College has reported at least 150 admissions of teenagers suffering from chronic liver cirrhosis every month. According to a news report in Times of India, the state also sees over 300 deaths due to liver disease, which occurs when healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue and prevents it from functioning normally.
“Two to three decades ago, we saw patients in their forties or fifties with liver cirrhosis, but we now have them in their twenties,” said Dr. Rajesh Patil, medical superintendent of Goa Medical College. According to Dr. Patil, the trend is in sync with the drop in the age of people taking to alcohol—between 12 and 14 years.
Dr. Patil said most tertiary care hospitals in the state record around 300 deaths, of which 30 per cent are caused by excessive intake of alcohol or alcohol-related incidents. These include incidents like drunk driving and developing diseases like cancer, strokes, and kidney failure.
According to experts, there is a need to increase awareness among young people, mostly students, about the ill effects of alcoholism and how it destroys the liver and its functioning.
What is liver cirrhosis?
Alcoholic liver cirrhosis is the most advanced form of liver disease linked to excessive drinking. Doctors say the disease is part of a progression—which usually starts with fatty liver disease and moves on to become hepatitis and finally cirrhosis. As the condition progresses and more healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, the liver stops functioning properly.
In a study published in the journal Clinical Liver Disease, 20-25 per cent of those who misuse alcohol by drinking heavily for years are bound to develop cirrhosis.
Signs and symptoms of alcohol-related liver cirrhosis
According to doctors, a few signs and symptoms of alcohol-related cirrhosis mostly develop around 3-4 years after you have started drinking heavily. In the early stages, your body compensates for your liver’s limited function. As the disease progresses, symptoms become more noticeable.
The symptoms of alcohol-related cirrhosis are similar to those of other conditions, which include:
- Jaundice
- Portal hypertension, which leads to vomiting blood and abdominal swelling Muscle wasting
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Brain fog and confusion
- Unintentional weight loss or gain
- Fainting
- Shifts in mood
- Problems with sleep
Can alcohol-related liver cirrhosis be treated?
According to doctors, treatments for liver cirrhosis do reverse in some forms, but alcohol-related cirrhosis usually cannot be reversed. However, a doctor can recommend treatments that may slow the disease’s progression and reduce symptoms.
The first step includes that you must stop drinking with immediate effect.
Those who have alcohol-related cirrhosis often experience high levels of alcohol dependence so they could have severe health complications whenever they try to quit. Other treatments a doctor may use include:
Medications
A doctor may prescribe corticosteroids, insulin, antioxidants, and calcium channel blockers
Nutritional counseling
Alcohol misuse leads to malnutrition
Extra protein
Those who have alcohol-related cirrhosis often require extra protein in their diet to reduce their likelihood of developing encephalopathy.
Surgery
In severe cases, you may also need to undergo a liver transplant.
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