Alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of liver damage. When liver damage has happened due to alcohol, it’s called alcohol-related liver disease. If alcohol use leads to cirrhosis, the only way to prevent progression (and reduce the risk of liver cancer or failure) is to quit. As such, your risk of liver disease is influenced not only by how much you drink and what you drink but also by how you drink alcohol. If the liver is healthy, fatty liver disease can be reversed, and hepatocytes can start to regenerate themselves over a relatively short period. However, with ongoing use, these capabilities can be impaired, sometimes irreversibly.
- These young patients may or may not have a chronic alcohol use disorder [commonly known as alcoholism], he says.
- This damage impairs the liver’s ability to function properly, which causes various symptoms and can even be fatal.
- There is no specific treatment for alcohol-related liver disease other than to stop drinking, preferably for the rest of your life.
Risks of Liver Damage from Years of Drinking
The normal range for aspartate transferase (AST) varies from laboratory to laboratory. One common reference range for an AST blood test is 8 to 33 U/L (units per liter). As ranges can vary depending on the laboratory, it’s important to check your test result alcohol withdrawal report to see what your specific lab’s reference range is. After your healthcare provider has collected your blood sample, they’ll send it to a laboratory for testing. Once the test results are back, your healthcare provider will share the results with you.
Should I be worried if I have a high AST test result?
We cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this blog or website. In any case, your healthcare provider will give you instructions when they order the bloodwork. USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From “How long does alcohol stay in your system?” to “Does sunscreen expire?” to “How to treat dehydration?” − we’re striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day.
Risk factors for alcohol-related liver disease
While the occasional alcoholic drink is not usually harmful, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a number of health consequences. It can raise your risk for heart disease, various types of cancer, high blood pressure and, of course, alcohol use disorder. Drinking can also lead to injuries and death by accidents, including motor vehicle crashes and falls, and can result in social and legal problems.
The research-backed line of products includes three versions of supplemental pills and powders – Restore, Hydrate and Protect. Cheers is now releasing read-to-drink versions of their products—starting with Cheers Restore. Each product is equipped to meet different health needs such as rehydration, liver support, and acetaldehyde exposure. Cheers places an equal emphasis on the responsibility and health aspects of its mission and vision. The brand’s mission is bringing people together by promoting fun, responsible, and health-conscious alcohol consumption.
Alcohol and Cirrhosis of the Liver: How Much Is Too Much?
Alcoholic hepatitis occurs when the liver becomes damaged and inflamed. Symptoms include fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), malnourishment, swelling, and accumulation of fluid around the liver. This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other the link between alcohol use and suicide content provided in this blog, website, or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This blog does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional health care advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Elevated levels of enzymes may indicate inflammation and damage in the liver. The tests to evaluate liver function are part of a broader blood test called liver function tests. Alcohol causes fat to accumulate in the liver, and this eventually can cause the liver to scar, which can lead to inflammation, as well as cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer. If you stop drinking alcohol for some time (months or years), your liver should return to normal. This is called alcoholic fatty liver disease, and is the first stage of ARLD.
As can be seen in the chart above, the researchers divided the men and women into groups based on amounts of drinks per week, then looked at how many men and women went on to develop liver disease / cirrhosis. As we have more modern results from the UK Million Women study which should be used for women, let’s examine the men more closely here instead. Liver disease is even more likely when the results of other liver blood tests are also abnormal. Although it’s not as common, elevated AST levels can be caused by cell damage in other areas of your body as well.
Binge drinking and heavy drinking can increase your risk of an alcohol use disorder. That’s why many of us wonder if a month of avoiding drinking is enough to “reset” your liver back to normal. It’s true that taking a break from alcohol for any amount of time will be beneficial overall, with some research showing that liver function begins to improve in as little as two to three weeks.
In some cases, your healthcare provider may have you stop taking a medication before the test. Only stop taking medication if your healthcare provider tells you to do so. When your cells get damaged, AST can leak into your bloodstream. Because of this, high levels of AST in a blood sample can be a sign of an underlying medical condition — most often (but not always), a liver condition.
“They basically blunt the absorption of alcohol and spread it out over time so you don’t get those peaks that get you really dizzy or uncoordinated,” Koob says. You’ll want to keep the water flowing in hot temperatures, especially when drinking. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, which means it dehydrates you because it makes you have to urinate more, Koob says. “You definitely should not get behind the wheel of a car, get in a boat to go boating or go swimming if you have a blood alcohol at the legal limits,” Koob says. They include deaths where the primary (or underlying) cause of death listed on the death certificate was one of 58 alcohol-related causes. These are increases of 27% among boys and men, and 35% among girls and women from just a few years earlier (2016–2017).
During the physical exam, the doctor will feel the abdomen to assess the size and tenderness of the liver. They can also determine whether the spleen is enlarged, which may be a sign of advanced liver disease. There are several steps you can take to help improve the health of your liver. Alcohol-related liver disease actually encompasses three different liver conditions. One of your liver’s jobs is to break down potentially toxic substances. When you drink, different enzymes in your liver work to break down alcohol so that it can be removed from your body.
If you’ve been diagnosed with any form of liver disease, the single best thing you can do for your liver is to stop drinking completely. If that’s not immediately possible, cutting back as much as you can is the next best thing. For some, quitting alcohol cold turkey can present risk of alcohol withdrawal. People also are often inclined to drink at the same pace as peers. One person is having a third round and doesn’t appear to be intoxicated, but you may be a person who starts to feel buzzed after just one drink.
Harmful toxins called reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage your liver and other tissues in your body. Damaged liver cells eventually become scarred and no longer work properly. For most people, moderate drinking will not cause liver disease. The liver is one of the most resilient organs in the body, with an impressive and unique ability to actually regenerate new, healthy tissue to replace damaged tissue. If drinking has become problematic to the point where it’s hard to stop on your own, there are numerous treatments available.
It can also remove a social stigma some feel when opting not to drink. Let this serve as a reminder to consider your safety when summertime drinking – 31% of drowning deaths involve a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal baking soda to pass drug test limit. Other treatment options may include surgery or a liver transplant for liver failure. Your doctor may also use the results from your ALT — along with your age and platelet count — to calculate your Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4).
Having hepatitis C or other liver diseases with heavy alcohol use can rapidly increase the development of cirrhosis. Abstaining from drinking alcohol is the first step in treating ALD. A team of healthcare providers, which may include psychologists or addiction specialists, can help if you find it challenging to stop drinking. Your healthcare provider will take into consideration all these factors, including your other blood test results, when analyzing your AST levels and will let you know if you should undergo further testing. Many different types of medications and supplements can affect your AST levels, so it’s important to tell your healthcare provider about any drugs or dietary supplements you’re taking before you get the test.