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Does Excessive Alcohol Consumption Cause Liver Cirrhosis?
Question: My husband has been drinking for fifty years. He stopped for three months this year, but now is back to 6-8 drinks per day. His liver enzymes returned to normal when he stopped for three months, but will probably be high again in three weeks when he returns to the doctor. Is he about to have cirrhosis? YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
Ultrasound abdomen-liver needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello madam,
Thanks for using healthcaremagic.
You narrated he had drunk for fifty(50) years means that is a quite long duration which can damage liver for sure.Though he stopped for three months ,whatever liver damage has occurred, it can not be recovered.
His enzymes returned to normal that is good thing, which suggest that his liver whatever the remaining percentage of functioning, is functioning well.
However he has started again drinking means liver enzymes are going to be abnormal.
To tell that he has cirrhosis or not ,we need to go for ultrasound abdomen-liver to see whether there is portal hypertension and cirrhotic changes in liver present or not.
He has been undergone heart valve replacement and probably taking plenty medicines so he must stop alcohol to keep his health in good condition.he needs consultation of a psychiatrist/de addiction specialist for that.
Please revert back to me with"his past reports of blood,enzymes and ultrasound if needed and also current medications" so I can give more comments which might help you.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Ultrasound abdomen-liver needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello madam,
Thanks for using healthcaremagic.
You narrated he had drunk for fifty(50) years means that is a quite long duration which can damage liver for sure.Though he stopped for three months ,whatever liver damage has occurred, it can not be recovered.
His enzymes returned to normal that is good thing, which suggest that his liver whatever the remaining percentage of functioning, is functioning well.
However he has started again drinking means liver enzymes are going to be abnormal.
To tell that he has cirrhosis or not ,we need to go for ultrasound abdomen-liver to see whether there is portal hypertension and cirrhotic changes in liver present or not.
He has been undergone heart valve replacement and probably taking plenty medicines so he must stop alcohol to keep his health in good condition.he needs consultation of a psychiatrist/de addiction specialist for that.
Please revert back to me with"his past reports of blood,enzymes and ultrasound if needed and also current medications" so I can give more comments which might help you.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Answered by
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