What do you think – alcoholism only affects your brain functionality. You may be tempted by it as it gives you a high feeling for the time being, making you happy and relaxed for the time being. But do you know which is another vital organ that has a severe impact on alcohol?

That organ is the ‘liver’. Many of you may already know how alcohol damages the liver. Those in darkness need to understand that the liver has hepatocytes that process the alcohol quickly from the body, and when you are highly drunk, the excess load on the liver stops it from functioning correctly.

Now, what happens is if you continue to drink, the liver has stopped breaking down the alcohol, and the toxins of the alcohol start to accumulate in the liver.

Over time, these toxins leave scars that are irreversible and severely affect liver functioning, and in many cases, it leads to liver failure.

Understanding occasional drinking and cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a dreadful condition in which the liver stops functioning. It starts with a fatty liver. In the initial stages, the condition is reversible. That is, if you stop drinking, the liver will regenerate itself. 

The second stage is liver hepatitis. Sometimes, there is partial damage, and it can take a long time to recover. In many cases, the only solution is to change the lifestyle to live longer.

But when the condition progresses to the last stage – cirrhosis. It is not irreversible, and occasional drinking with cirrhosis is very lethal as it can lead to more complicated situations.

Drinking will add fuel to the fire, and it can cause terminal illness. The condition requires you to have a very restricted diet with the proper medication so that the condition does not exacerbate further. 

What happens when you keep drinking with cirrhosis?

Your healthcare specialist will recommend you refrain from drinking if you are diagnosed with cirrhosis. It is essential to let your provider know if you are drinking occasionally. 

But what happens when you keep drinking with cirrhosis?

Further deterioration of the condition

The condition will further worsen. The medications will not show their results. Your liver is already in a compromised state, and the condition is that it cannot digest the lighter food. Now, think, when you have the feeling of vomit and nausea all day long, how can you digest the alcohol?

Alcohol gives a roller coaster ride to healthy people, and when you continue to drink with chronic illnesses, needless to say, you are making yourself prone to more complicated symptoms.

Increased complications.

When you are on cirrhosis, these are the most common symptoms you may have:

• Throwing up blood
• Brain fog
• Losing weight
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Brain fog
• Muscle weakness
• Insomnia
• Jaundice
• itchiness

These are the most common symptoms and may interrupt normal day-to-day functioning. If you continue to drink with liver diseases, these symptoms, along with the high alcohol content, make your life hell. 

Even if it is minimal, it will harm and make symptoms more unmanageable.

Medication interaction

Alcohol interacts with other medicines. Your medications may not show the desired result, so there is a high chance that the symptoms may get exaggerated.

Not only does alcohol stop the effectiveness of the medicines, but some medicines, when combined with alcohol, show lethal side effects that may need you to run to the emergency department.

Problem with liver transplant

A liver transplant is a highly complex procedure in itself. The healthcare specialist will check your vitals and whether you are fit. Post-surgery is also very challenging.

If you are planning to undergo a liver transplant, then keep in mind that you need to refrain from drinking and follow all the guidelines recommended by the specialist.  

What are the recommendations for cirrhosis?

If you have cirrhosis and continue to drink without any doubt, you are pushing yourself to a terminal illness.

Follow a strict diet.

To deal with cirrhosis, you need to follow the strict diet prescribed by the doctor. At these times, you may have a very restricted diet wherein you have to give up your likings and cravings for food.

Completely abstain from drinking.

As discussed, alcohol will deteriorate your health further, and the treatment is a bit challenging if you continue to drink with cirrhosis.

Drinking even once in a blue moon is lethal, so if your doctor has said to maintain abstinence, you have no choice but to do it. 

Regular appointments with the doctor

Remember that cirrhosis is a condition where you can manage the condition with a healthy lifestyle, but you cannot reverse the condition. 

You need to have regular appointments with the doctor and follow the lifestyle prescribed religiously. 

Final take away

Occasional drinking with cirrhosis is never a good idea. You have to work on your cravings and anyhow refrain from drinking. 

You can also join rehabs so that you can stay away from the triggers that lead to alcoholism. So, next time, you crave to think about your deteriorated condition and live the rest of your life with sobriety.