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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Consequences Of Long-term Consumption Of Alcohol?

My husband drinks moderately heavy the 2 days a week he doesn t work (5-6 beers each day), and has done this for long years. He never gets drunk, is otherwise healthy, but I wonder about long term liver damage. Is his drinking enough to contribute to liver damage?
Thu, 24 Aug 2017
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Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
It is incredibly variable. First, not getting drunk is a risk factor for alcohol abuse simply because there is no reliable way to know when ones had enough alcohol. When there is no on switch there is also no off switch. Then, even if there are no problems, stopping this level of alcohol could produce serious withdrawal. So, it's a potentially serious condition even if there is nothing happening right now. The liver grows back when damaged and scar formation inside or outside (how much scar someone gets from a cut) varies between individuals. Until the liver is really messed up, it is hard to tell how much damage. An ultrasound, CT, or MRI would be able to show how much of the liver is scar tissue.
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What Are The Consequences Of Long-term Consumption Of Alcohol?

It is incredibly variable. First, not getting drunk is a risk factor for alcohol abuse simply because there is no reliable way to know when ones had enough alcohol. When there is no on switch there is also no off switch. Then, even if there are no problems, stopping this level of alcohol could produce serious withdrawal. So, it s a potentially serious condition even if there is nothing happening right now. The liver grows back when damaged and scar formation inside or outside (how much scar someone gets from a cut) varies between individuals. Until the liver is really messed up, it is hard to tell how much damage. An ultrasound, CT, or MRI would be able to show how much of the liver is scar tissue.