On average, one in three heavy drinkers develop liver damage. When the organ breaks down alcohol, the process generates substances that deteriorate it. If this happens continuously, fibrous scars develop in the liver over time, called cirrhosis. If cirrhosis has not yet existed, the liver can still heal, as long as you stop consuming alcohol and resolve any malnutrition problems. Many people take great strides towards recovery in just a few months.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms and Asking for Help
Step 1. Recognize the common early symptoms of alcoholism
If alcohol abuse is a recent problem, you may not have any symptoms yet. Over time, however, your health will deteriorate. Initial symptoms include:
- Pain in the abdominal area;
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or dysentery
- Exhaustion.
Step 2. Recognize symptoms that indicate liver damage is increasing
If you have any of the following ailments, it is imperative that you stop drinking and see a doctor to protect your liver from further damage and start treating it:
- Jaundice or yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
- Stagnation of liquids in the tissues of the legs and abdomen;
- Fever;
- Itching;
- Weight loss;
- Hair loss
- Presence of blood in stool or vomit (caused by internal bleeding)
- Personality changes, memory deficits and insomnia;
- Numbness of the feet or legs
- Abdominal swelling
- Melena (dark, greasy and smelly stools)
- Vomiting blood
- Fatigue.
Step 3. Stop drinking
The liver cannot heal unless you stop consuming alcohol. Your doctor can prescribe a therapy suited to your condition and needs. Possible options include:
- Use of drugs, such as baclofen
- Psychological therapy;
- Supportive association, such as Alcoholics Anonymous;
- Outpatient detox treatment;
- Residential detox treatment.
Part 2 of 3: Resolve Malnutrition Problems and Promote Liver Healing
Step 1. Consult a dietician or nutritionist
A food science professional can help you formulate a diet that will improve your health, taking into account your medical history and any allergies.
If the malnutrition is particularly severe, they may give you a special liquid diet intravenously
Step 2. Adopt a diet that restores energy to you
Liver damage can indicate that the organ is unable to store energy properly. If this is the case, you will need to eat more to compensate for what the body is unable to store.
- Eating 5-6 small meals a day with healthy ingredients can be beneficial.
- Increase your consumption of simple carbohydrates by eating fruit and complex carbohydrates by eating pasta, bread and whole grains, potatoes, corn, peas, parsnips, lentils, beans, and nuts.
- You can supplement carbohydrates with a moderate amount of fat. They will provide you with an extra dose of energy.
- If you have been losing weight in conjunction with alcohol abuse, your body may have started consuming muscle tissue to get the nutrients it needs.
Step 3. Consult your doctor (or nutritionist) to find out what your daily protein requirement is
Recommendations will be based on several factors, most likely including the severity of the liver damage.
- Some experts suggest increasing the consumption of protein to provide the body with energy.
- Other doctors argue that, being damaged, the liver may have difficulty processing proteins and this could cause a buildup of toxins. According to this theory, it may be necessary to reduce its intake rather than increase it.
Step 4. Take vitamin and mineral supplements
B vitamins are especially important, but make sure you meet your daily needs for vitamin K, phosphates, and magnesium as well.
- The body needs the B vitamins to break down food and turn it into energy. More precisely, for this purpose, you can take a supplement that contains thiamine, folate and pyridoxine, which are vitamins belonging to group B.
- B vitamins are found in many foods, such as fish, chicken, turkey, red meat, eggs, dairy products, beans, peas, and leafy vegetables.
- If you are not providing enough vitamins to your body through your diet, your doctor may recommend that you take a supplement. In this regard, do not start taking drugs or natural remedies without his approval, even if it is a herbal product. Always consult it to find out if your liver is able to process the active ingredients.
Step 5. Reduce your sodium intake to a maximum of 1,500 mg per day
This will prevent body fluids from accumulating in the legs, abdomen or liver.
- Try to eat without salt.
- Avoid ultra-processed and packaged foods as they often contain a high dose of salt.
Step 6. Help your body flush out toxins by drinking lots of water every day
The daily requirement varies from individual to individual, based on weight, lifestyle and climatic conditions. However, the minimum threshold for everyone is two liters per day.
If your urine is low, dark, or cloudy, you are most likely not drinking enough water
Step 7. Get your appetite back by exercising at moderate intensity
Physical activity promotes both body and mental health.
Ask your doctor what type and how much exercise is recommended for you
Part 3 of 3: Treating Liver Inflammation with Medication
Step 1. Use only medications approved by your doctor
Always ask for his approval, even with regard to herbal remedies, supplements and drugs that do not require a doctor's prescription. In your current condition, your body may have difficulty processing certain substances and your doctor will be able to help you make the right choices.
- Many medications and herbal remedies can cause liver damage. Some of these products are commonly used, such as aspirin, camedrio, valerian, mistletoe and scutellaria. To these are added some Chinese herbs ("jin bu huan" and "ma-huang").
- Avoid any kind of drugs, even the so-called soft ones, because they can cause further damage to the liver;
- Protect yourself from toxic chemicals in fungicides, insecticides, or sprays and other noxious fumes. If you are forced to be in an unhealthy environment, wear a mask to protect your airways.
Step 2. Ask your doctor if you can use corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
If your liver is badly damaged, these anti-inflammatory drugs can be beneficial.
- Corticosteroid medications are usually not prescribed to patients with kidney problems, gastrointestinal bleeding or infection.
- Typically prednisolone (a glucorticoid) is prescribed for 28 days. During therapy, your doctor will want to monitor your blood glucose level.
- On average, two out of five patients do not benefit from taking corticosteroids.
Step 3. Consider taking pentoxifylline if corticosteroids are not working for you
However, be aware that studies carried out on this drug have yielded controversial results.
- Your doctor will be able to tell you whether the most recent research has given you a positive or negative result;
- Pentoxifylline inhibits cytokines that cause further liver damage. This drug may be beneficial for patients who have mildly or moderately damaged liver.
- Corticosteroids are sometimes used in combination with pentoxifylline.
Step 4. Try using anabolic steroids or propylthiouracil if your liver is not severely damaged
Doctors' views on these drugs are still controversial because scientific evidence to support them is still scarce.
- Anabolic steroids exert a powerful action.
- Propylthiouracil was born as a drug for the treatment of the thyroid gland.
Step 5. Discuss liver transplantation with your doctor
If the organ is seriously diseased, it may be the only solution available. In order to receive a new liver, you need to:
- Having stopped drinking
- Being in a health condition that allows you to pass the operation;
- Agree to abstain from alcoholic beverages for the rest of your life;
- That all other possible treatments have failed.
