Treatment of Alcoholic liver disease by Dr. Bharat Pothuri.
Step 1: Health and Alcohol History
Dr. Pothuri starts by inquiring about your health and alcohol consumption. This step aims to determine if the individual experiences health issues and consumes alcohol at all.
Step 2: Physical Examination
He examines the liver, proposing whether he has liver damage, such as pain or swelling.
Step 3: Blood Tests
He can request a blood test to check liver enzyme and protein levels.
Step 4: Imaging Tests
This is visible on imaging tests that include ultrasound or FibroScan to view fat, swelling, or liver scars.
Step 5: Liver Biopsy (if needed)
In other instances, a liver biopsy is performed to understand the amount of damage involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do we mean by alcoholic liver disease?
It is liver damage due to heavy alcoholism. It is a spectrum between a fatty liver to hepatitis to cirrhosis.
What are the early symptoms?
Early symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and pain in the belly as well as a slight increase of liver enzymes.
Is liver disease alcoholic reversible?
Yes, in early stages. Fatty liver and mild inflammation can be reversed by stopping alcohol and adopting lifestyle changes.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis involves a medical history, liver functional tests, imaging such as ultrasound and a liver biopsy in rare cases.
Will liver disease be a result of moderate drinking?
No, mostly not, though there are others who are more sensitive to alcohol or have other risk factors such as hepatitis or obesity.
What is the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis?
The most important thing is alcohol cessation. The worst may need medicines, hospital or nutritional treatment.
What is cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is scarring of liver irreversibly. It may cause such complications as causing bleeding, swelling, or liver failure.
Does alcoholic liver disease result in death?
Yes, if untreated. Higher stages of the disease predispose to liver failures, inner bleeding and other life threatening problems.
How do we most effectively avoid it?
Do not take too much alcohol, keep off the weight and have frequent checkups to check the liver.
When do I want to see a liver specialist?
In the case of regular drinking, and with the symptoms or abnormal liver tests, make an appointment with a gastroenterologist or hepatologist.