WHILE LIVER CONDITIONS DO NOT Typically show many warning signals until your liver is “severely damaged,” a health charity tells us about one “early” sign that might be troubling you during the night.
As its name implies, excessive alcohol use leads to alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD). This illness has three basic stages, with the first symptom appearing during sleep.
While everyone occasionally has a bad night, chronic sleeping problems may indicate a more serious health concern.
In fact, The British Liver Trust advises that sleeplessness is one of the “early” signs of liver disease brought on by alcohol.
Although the early stages of ARLD typically don’t result in many symptoms, the organization warns that insomnia may still happen “early” on.
After a certain point, the agency says, a buildup of toxins in the brain causes insomnia.
Although the health care views insomnia as an early sign, it also has the potential to indicate “advanced” liver disease.
“As the liver becomes more severely damaged, more obvious and serious symptoms can develop,” according to the agency.
If you have this sleep issue, the health organization advises that you “see your GP as soon as possible.”
While restless sleep may be a sign of a liver disorder, it’s not the only symptom to watch out for.
Other “early” symptoms, according to the British Liver Trust, include:
- An aching feeling or discomfort on the upper right side of your tummy (where your liver is)
- Little or no appetite
- An overwhelming sense of tiredness (fatigue)
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling generally unwell.
If you don’t take care of the disease, your liver will suffer further harm, leading to more severe symptoms.
Worse, symptoms are not always present in alcoholic liver disease.
The agency cautions that liver damage can occur even if none of the aforementioned symptoms are present.
That’s why it’s important to discuss your alcohol consumption with your doctor.
Alcohol damages the liver.
The liver is a complicated organ. The organ can filter out toxins, keep cholesterol in check, and help fight infections, among other things.
When you drink alcohol, some of its cells die, but the liver can make new cells to replace them. However, if you drink too much alcohol often, it can cause permanent problems.
“Prolonged alcohol misuse (drinking too much) over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate,” adds the agency.
The health agency encourages people to at least keep their alcohol use below the advised levels, even though quitting drinking is the most effective approach to prevent ARLD.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults of the legal drinking age can choose not to drink or to drink in moderation by consuming no more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day for males and no more than 1 alcoholic drink per day for women. Less drinking is better for your health than more drinking.
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