How Long Can I Live With Alcoholic Liver Disease?

Nearly 80% of people with an AUD have a thiamine deficiency; many will develop brain damage like WKS after years of heavy drinking. Typically, patients develop Wernicke’s encephalopathy and are later diagnosed with Korsakoff’s as well. Despite the potentially lethal damage that heavy drinking inflicts on the body—including cancer, heart how long do alcoholics live problems, and liver disease—the social consequences can be just as devastating. Alcoholics and alcohol abusers are much more likely to get divorced, have problems with domestic violence, struggle with unemployment, and live in poverty. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.

Alcoholic liver disease is caused by many years of drinking. Mild alcoholism is as insidious as “full-blown” or severe alcoholism. Both grades of the disease can cause alcohol dependence and gradually develop before becoming apparent to the person struggling with AUD and those who love and care for them.

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome And End-Stage Alcoholism

People with alcohol use disorder can’t stop drinking, even when it causes problems, emotional distress or physical harm to themselves or others. Cirrhosis will eventually stop your liver from working properly. As scar tissue replaces healthy tissue in your liver, it blocks the flow of blood and slows your liver’s ability to process nutrients and filter toxins. This leads to many complications, including malnutrition, blood toxicity, liver failure and death. In the West, alcohol-induced liver disease causes 80% of liver toxicity deaths. Your healthcare provider can offer supportive care while you recover from alcohol withdrawal and refer you to further resources to help treat alcohol use disorder. They can also help treat some of the complications that alcohol use and hepatitis cause.

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The Effects of Moderate Drinking on Life Expectancy

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