Can You Take Control of Your Liver Health?

Many people see the new year as a time to reset and make positive life changes for their health.

Cue the “Dry January” and “New Year, new me” mantras. For many, this effort is an aspirational choice, but for some, it’s a medical necessity — due to the need to preserve their liver and control their liver disease.

“Overall, liver disease is on the rise, but the causes have now changed,” said David Goldberg, M.D., a hepatologist at the University of Miami Health System. “While hepatitis C was the primary reason, new therapies within the last decade have cut down on these cases. We are now seeing metabolic cases and alcohol use as the main reasons for liver damage.”

How does alcohol affect your liver?

There’s nothing wrong with an occasional drink. The National Institutes of Health recommend one drink or less per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men. The issue results when the occasional drinking turns into a routine pattern of overconsumption on a daily and weekly basis, all of which can have long-term effects on the liver.

“When alcohol is overconsumed, the fat from the substance enters the liver, triggering an inflammatory pathway leading to inflammation,” Dr. Golberg said. “This inflammation results in cirrhosis, scar tissue build-up on the liver which can result in liver failure and cancer.”

Fatty liver disease, also known as steatotic liver disease, affects 30 – 40% of the U.S. population. Dr. Goldberg has noticed an increase in younger women and alcohol liver disease during the last 5-10 years, mainly due to the effects of isolation as a product of the pandemic.

Can I reverse or control liver damage?

Only a subset of those with liver disease develop inflammation; an even smaller subset builds up scar tissue, and from there, the scar may progress to cirrhosis. Various genetic and environmental factors also contribute to this complex condition. While a diagnosis of liver disease in the past was a sentence of no return, today’s medical landscape offers patients more options.

“Because of the liver’s regenerative capacity, it can heal itself over time,” Dr. Goldberg said. “While going from cirrhosis to no scar tissue may or may not be possible in someone’s lifetime, if you get the primary disease under control, a patient can have the tissue regress in 5-10 years from a stage 4 to maybe a stage 2 or 3.”

To regress the tissue, Dr. Goldberg advises a team approach works best with the provider and addiction specialist to get to the root cause of the patient’s alcohol abuse.

“It’s really the amount of alcohol in a drink that poses the danger along with people not knowing how to read package labels,” Dr. Goldberg said. “For those with liver damage, even a little alcohol can be fuel to the fire; therefore, I recommend my patients to avoid it fully. “

For those past the point of regression, the root cause of the damage still needs to be addressed to prevent more health issues before talks of a liver transplant are next.

Steps to reclaim a healthy liver

Looking to take the first steps in your liver care? Dr. Goldberg recommends the following.

Reverse liver damage:

• Get to the root of what causes the individual to drink
• Re-examine the home structure for any vices
• Have a consistent support system
• Go over medication to reduce alcohol cravings with a provider
• Have an able and willing disposition

As for individuals who want to take preventative measures, there are steps they can take to prolong their liver health.

Maintain a healthy liver:

• Minimize things that can make liver damage worse (heavy drinking, unhealthy diet)
• Maintain a proper diet and exercise
• Be mindful of advertised supplements that claim to help the liver
• Find a provider that can set realistic goals

Take the first steps in your liver health, contact UHealth’s hepatology specialists or request an appointment online.

Joey Garcia is a Communications Specialist at UHealth.

Tags: Alcohol-related liver disease, Dr. David Goldberg, Liver detox, Liver disease prevention, Liver health tips, Liver regeneration