2024-02-11 14:44:56
In Greek mythology, Zeus punished Prometheus for giving humans fire. He chained him and asked an eagle to feast on his liver. Each night the liver grew back, and each day the eagle returned for its feast. In reality, can a liver really grow back?
The liver is the largest internal organ of the human body. It is necessary for hundreds of bodily processes, including breaking down toxins like alcohol. As it is the first organ to “see” the alcohol that has just been consumed, it is not surprising that it is the most sensitive to the effects of alcohol. However, other organs, including the brain and heart, can also be damaged by long-term excessive alcohol consumption.
As a liver specialist, I encounter people with alcohol-related liver disease every day. The spectrum of these diseases ranges from the formation of fat in the liver (hepatic steatosis) to the formation of lesions (cirrhosis). These diseases usually do not cause any symptoms until the damage is very advanced.
At first, alcohol makes the liver fatty. This fat causes inflammation of the liver. In response, it attempts to heal itself by producing scar tissue. If this phenomenon continues unchecked, the entire liver can become a mesh of scars between which there are small islands of “good” liver: this is cirrhosis.
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In the later stages of cirrhosis, when the liver is failing, people may turn yellow (jaundice), bloat with fluid, and become drowsy and confused. This situation is serious and can be fatal.
Most people who regularly drink more than the recommended limit of 14 units of alcohol per week (regarding six pints of normal strength beer (4% alcohol) or regarding six medium glasses (175 ml) of wine (14% alcohol) of alcohol) will have fatty liver. Heavy, long-term alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing scarring and cirrhosis.
(The Alcool Info Service website explains that the indication in degree (°) or percentage (%) for an alcoholic drink corresponds to the quantity of pure alcohol contained in 100 ml of drink. If a drink is 35° (or 35% concentrated), this means that 100 ml of this drink contains 35 ml of pure alcohol. The higher the degree or percentage, the more concentrated the drink is in pure alcohol.)
(The alcohol consumption benchmarks recommended in France by Public Health France are as follows: do not consume more than ten standard drinks per week; do not consume more than two glasses per day; have days without consumption in a week, editor’s note.)
Yellowing of the skin and eyes is a sign of a damaged liver. Creative Cat Studio/Shutterstock
Good news
Fortunately, there is good news. In people with fatty liver disease, following just two to three weeks of stopping alcohol consumption, the liver can heal and appears to function as well as if it were brand new.
In people with liver inflammation or mild damage, even seven days following stopping alcohol consumption, there is a noticeable reduction in fat, inflammation and scar tissue in the liver. . Stopping alcohol consumption for several months allows the liver to heal and return to normal.
In heavy drinkers who have more severe damage or liver failure, stopping alcohol use for several years reduces the risk of worsening liver failure and death. However, people who drink heavily may be physically dependent on alcohol, and stopping suddenly can lead to alcohol withdrawal.
In its mild form, alcohol withdrawal causes tremors and sweating. But if it is severe, it can cause hallucinations, seizures and even death. Crash withdrawal is never recommended for heavy drinkers who should consult a doctor regarding how to stop drinking alcohol safely.
Other benefits
Stopping alcohol consumption also has positive effects on sleep, brain function and blood pressure.
Avoiding alcohol for long periods also reduces the risk of several types of cancer (including liver, pancreas, and colon) and the risk of heart disease and stroke.
However, alcohol is not the only factor in poor health. Giving up alcohol has many health benefits, but it is not a panacea. It must be integrated into a healthy lifestyle, which includes a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
So, to answer the question posed by the myth of Prometheus, the liver has the astonishing power to repair itself following being damaged. But it cannot grow back the same if it has already been seriously damaged.
If you stop drinking and just have a fatty liver, it can quickly return to normal. If you have a scarred liver (cirrhosis) to begin with, stopping alcohol will provide some healing and improvement in function, but not all damage already done can be reversed.
If you want to take care of your liver, don’t drink alcohol. But if you have to drink, drink in moderation and spend two or three days without drinking alcohol per week. This way, you won’t have to rely on the magical self-healing power of the liver to stay healthy.
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