What happens to your liver when you stop drinking alcohol?

According to Greek mythology, Zeus punished Prometheus for giving humans fire . He chained Prometheus and asked an eagle to feast on his liver. Each night the liver grew back and each day the eagle returned to its feast. But in reality, Can a liver really grow back?

The liver is the largest internal organ of the human body. It is necessary for hundreds of bodily processes, including the breakdown of toxins like alcohol. Being the first organ that “sees” drunk alcohol, it is not surprising that it is the most sensitive to its effects. However, other organs, including the brain and heart, can also be damaged by long-term excessive alcohol consumption.

As a liver specialist, I encounter people suffering from alcohol-related liver disease every day. It’s a spectrum of diseases ranging from accumulation of fat in the liver (fatty liver) leading to scarring (cirrhosis) and usually does not cause any symptoms until the later stages of damage.

At first, Alcohol greases the liver. This fat causes inflammation of the liver. In response, it attempts to heal itself, producing scar tissue. If nothing is done, the entire liver can become a network of scars with small islands of “good” liver in the middle: cirrhosis.

In the late stages of cirrhosis, when the liver is failing, People may turn yellow (jaundice), swell with fluid, and feel drowsy and confused. It is serious and can be fatal.

Most people who regularly drink more than the recommended limit of 14 units of alcohol per week (about six pints of normal strength beer [4% ABV] or about six glasses on average [175 ml] of wine [14% ABV]) will consume fatty alcohol. liver. Excessive and prolonged alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing scars and cirrhosis .

Fortunately, there is good news. In people with fatty liver disease, after just two to three weeks of stopping alcohol, the liver can heal, look and function. Like new .

In people with liver inflammation or mild scarring, even within seven days of stopping alcohol, noticeable reductions in liver fat, inflammation and scarring . Quitting alcohol for several months allows the liver to heal and return to normal.

In heavy drinkers with more severe scarring or liver failure, stopping alcohol for several years reduces the risk of worsen liver failure and death . HoweverPeople who drink heavily can become physically dependent on alcohol, and suddenly stopping drinking can lead to alcohol withdrawal.

In its mild form, it causes tremors and sweating. But if it is severe, it can cause hallucinations, seizures and even death. . Quitting alcohol suddenly is never recommended for heavy drinkers, and they should consult a doctor about how to quit alcohol safely.

Stopping drinking also has positive effects on sleep, brain function and blood pressure .

Avoiding alcohol for long periods also reduces the risk of several types of cancer (including the liver, pancreas and colon) and the risk of heart disease and stroke .

However, Alcohol is not the only cause of poor health. Giving it up has many health benefits, but it is not a panacea. It should be considered part of a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

So, to answer the question posed by the myth of Prometheus, The liver has the incredible power to repair itself after being damaged. But it can’t grow back like new if it already has serious scarring.

If you stop drinking and only have fatty liver disease, you can quickly return to normal. If you had a scar on your liver (cirrhosis), stop drinking alcohol. This will allow some healing and improve function, but it will not be able to repair all the damage already done.

If you want to take care of your liver, drink in moderation and allow two or three days without alcohol per week . This way, you won’t need to rely on the magical self-healing power of the liver to stay healthy.

* Ashwin Dhanda Associate Professor of Hepatology, University of Plymouth