Medical Questions » Alcohol Questions » Question No. 19
| Question: | Why do alcoholics get liver damage? |
| Answer: | Alcohol is absorbed from the stomach into the bloodstream, and is moved to the liver, where it is broken down into its basic components. Excess amounts of alcohol are excreted rh rough the kidneys. If the liver is regularly overloaded with alcohol, the cells in the organ are damaged (pickled) and they can no longer function properly. If enough cells are damaged, rhe person develops cirrhosis, which may lead to total liver failure and death.
Doctors can do a blood test to see if your liver is being damaged by alcohol. Anyone who is taking more than six drinks a day is risking permanent liver damage and is probably an alcoholic. |
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