[ad_1]
If you drink alcohol regularly and have noticed that your belly has started to grow, it could be much more than that. Inflammation – This can be a warning sign for your liver. While most people know that alcohol is not good for the body, few know how quickly regular drinking can lead to cell damage, scarring and severe liver dysfunction. In some cases, abdominal distension may indicate fluid buildup due to advanced liver injury, a condition that requires immediate medical attention.
Read this also Hepatologists say, ‘Drink coffee first thing in the morning, even on an empty stomach…’; 5 myths about coffee debunked
Anesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine physician Dr Kunal Sood explains what really happens to your body when you drink alcohol. In an Instagram video posted on November 22, the doctor explains how chronic alcohol consumption affects the liver and highlights the different stages of liver damage.
effects of chronic alcohol use
According to Dr. Sood, when you drink alcohol, your liver breaks it down into a toxic compound that can damage liver cells. Regular alcohol consumption can cause liver damage and even cause liver cells to die. The doctor explains, “When you drink alcohol, your liver converts the alcohol into acetaldehyde, a toxic substance that can damage your liver cells. With long-term alcohol consumption, your liver cells will become overwhelmed, causing scarring and cell death.”
First sign of liver damage
Dr. Sood emphasizes that chronic alcohol consumption can cause serious liver damage, the initial symptoms of which are often seen in the form of fat buildup in the liver. He says, “The first sign of this damage is fatty liver, or accumulation of fat in the liver. If alcohol drinking continues, Inflammation will occur, leading to alcoholic hepatitis. “Over time, lesions develop leading to liver cirrhosis which will severely impair normal liver function.”
advanced liver damage
Dr. Sood explains that in the later stages of liver damage, fluid may accumulate in the abdomen, causing the abdomen to appear bloated or bulging – a sign that requires immediate medical attention. He explains, “At this advanced stage, complications such as ascites, which is a build-up of fluid in the abdomen, can occur. Ascites occurs because Cirrhosis reduces blood flow to the liver, which will increase pressure in nearby blood vessels causing fluid to leak into the abdominal cavity. This will usually require immediate medical attention.”
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
[ad_2]
