[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/11\/types-of-alcoholic-liver-disease-how-drinking-can-affect-your-health\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/11\/types-of-alcoholic-liver-disease-how-drinking-can-affect-your-health\/","headline":"Types of Alcoholic Liver Disease: How Drinking Can Affect Your Health","name":"Types of Alcoholic Liver Disease: How Drinking Can Affect Your Health","description":"Excessive drinking can be very dangerous to your health and can cause three different types of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Learn more about these conditions. ","datePublished":"2018-11-22","dateModified":"2019-08-07","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/transplant","name":"Transplant Services","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/transplant","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/transplant-services\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Wine.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Wine.jpg","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/11\/types-of-alcoholic-liver-disease-how-drinking-can-affect-your-health\/","about":["Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":569,"articleBody":"Many people know that drinking alcohol can cause liver damage, but some don\u2019t realize how serious the damage can be. Drinking is considered excessive if you are:A woman who has more than three drinks at once, or seven drinks in a weekA man who has more than four drinks at once, or 14 drinks in a weekExcessive drinking can be very dangerous to your health and can cause these types of alcoholic liver disease (ALD):Alcoholic fatty liverAlcoholic hepatitisAlcoholic cirrhosisIf you have been diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease talk to you doctor immediately about treatment options. Learn more about Living-Donor Liver Transplants at UPMC.3 Types of Alcoholic Liver DiseaseAlcoholic fatty liver The first and most common type of ALD is alcoholic fatty liver. While this is the least severe form of ALD, affecting 20 percent of heavy drinkers, it still can cause dangerous side effects.Alcohol fatty liver is a silent disease with few or no symptoms, but damage to the liver is still occurring.If alcohol consumption is stopped or significantly reduced, the disease can be reversed. Alcoholic fatty liver can lead to alcoholic hepatitis.Alcoholic hepatitisAlcoholic hepatitis is much more serious and can be harder to control.People diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis may experience the following symptoms:Swollen liverNauseaVomitingAbdominal painThe disease can progress quickly, so it\u2019s important to monitor your symptoms and speak with your doctor immediately.About 40 percent of people with alcoholic hepatitis can develop alcoholic cirrhosis if the disease is left untreated and drinking continues.Alcoholic cirrhosisThe most severe type of ALD is alcoholic cirrhosis which occurs when scar tissue damages the liver and prevents it from working properly.People diagnosed with alcoholic cirrhosis may experience:Redness of the palms of their handsShortening of muscles in the fingersThickening of the fingersLiver enlargement and inflammationAbnormal buildup of fat in normal liver cellsThe best way to prevent further damage is to stop drinking completely and seek help right away.Alcoholic Cirrhosis and Liver TransplantIf the liver is too severely damaged, a liver transplant may be necessary. For patients in need of a liver transplant, every moment is critical; the sooner you receive a transplant, the less damage happens to your body.Unfortunately, with more than 14,000 Americans on the waiting list for a liver, the wait for a transplant may take years.To reduce the wait time, many patients consider a living-donor liver transplant. Because the liver can regenerate, it is possible for someone to donate a portion of their healthy liver to someone in need of a transplant. Both livers will regenerate, or regrow, within about three months.Find a Living Donor Using Living Donor ChampionSometimes the hardest part of finding a living donor is building up the courage to ask. A living donor champion can help make this overwhelming task more manageable.A living donor champion is someone who supports you through your journey and shares your story to find a living donor. While you focus on remaining healthy, they can focus on connecting with people who may be able to save your life.If you have been diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease talk to you doctor immediately about treatment options. Learn more about Living-Donor Liver Transplants at UPMC.If you think you or someone you love has a drinking problem, visit UPMC Addiction Medicine. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2018","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Types of Alcoholic Liver Disease: How Drinking Can Affect Your Health","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/11\/types-of-alcoholic-liver-disease-how-drinking-can-affect-your-health\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]