You may have heard that cirrhosis of the liver is reversible in some cases, which sounds like good news for those impacted by cirrhosis due to excessive alcohol consumption in the past. Current research indicates that it’s possible to reverse the effects of cirrhosis in some cases. However, one notable exception is that cirrhosis caused by heavy binge drinking is irreparable. The only current way to completely remedy alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis is obtaining an entirely new one via transplant, which requires a donor and may be subject to all the complications of an organ transplant.
The silver lining is that alcoholic cirrhosis is one of the few among these that is entirely preventable. At The Right Step, our alcohol addiction treatment program allows you to manage impulses to drink, as well as medically manage the unpleasant effects of withdrawal. Cirrhosis can be fatal, and continuing to drink alcohol is all but certain to make it worse with time. Don’t wait another day, and call 17135283709 now to take the first step in conquering your alcohol dependence.
The 6 Types of Liver Disease that Lead to Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a form of liver disease marked by the formation of scar tissue and a significant decline in the organ’s ability to function normally. If left untreated, it can lead to liver failure and death. There is more than one cause of cirrhosis than just alcohol. In addition to chronic heavy alcohol consumption, cirrhosis of the liver is an effect of conditions such as:
- Chronic hepatitis (B or C)
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
- Autoimmune liver inflammation
- Certain genetically inherited illnesses, and
- Any illness that blocks, injures, or completely destroys the bile ducts that connect your liver to your small intestine
The presence of cirrhosis hinders your liver’s ability to perform some of its most essential, life-supporting functions. If enough scar tissue forms inside the organ, it can fail altogether and set off a potentially fatal health crisis.
An Alcoholic Liver Means Potentially Irreversible Damage
At one point, doctors and researchers believed that liver scarring would inevitably grow worse over time. However, current evidence indicates that the condition can actually be reversed if cirrhosis of the liver is an effect of specific health problems. Examples of these problems include:
- Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other viral illnesses
- Autoimmune hepatitis (especially common in women), and
- Metabolic liver disease (a condition caused by unusual changes in the body’s chemical balance that disrupt normal metabolism)
Still, even when these conditions trigger cirrhosis, doctors can’t guarantee that they can reverse the illness, especially when present in its advanced form. One type of liver scarring is missing from the list of commonly reversible conditions: alcohol-related cirrhosis, which occurs in roughly one to two out of every 10 people who consume alcohol in excessive amounts for extended periods of time.
Alcoholic Liver Treatment with The Right Step
The American Liver Foundation reports that once alcohol-related cirrhosis occurs, even if you stop drinking, you cannot reverse this form of cirrhosis. Instead, doctors aim to slow down or halt the progression of the scarring process and help their patients avoid severe complications of the condition. However, they can only achieve these goals if you seek treatment and abstain from further alcohol intake.
At The Right Step, we offer this treatment with the goal of setting yourself free from the burden of alcoholism. By giving patients the skills they need to overcome addiction in the long term, they can leave treatment and stay sober on their own. If you want to drop drinking before liver cirrhosis begins or worsens, call us at 17135283709 today.
