If you have been drinking heavily over the past few months or years, you might wonder if your liver has been damaged by alcohol abuse. The short answer is “yes.” Alcohol abuse can cause severe damage to your liver. Call 888.341.3607 to speak with someone from Ashwood Recovery about alcohol’s effects on the liver and our alcohol abuse treatment program.
What Are the Dangers of Alcohol Abuse?
Alcohol abuse is defined as drinking more than seven drinks per week for women or 14 drinks per week for men. Excessive drinking can lead to numerous health problems, including the following:
- Cancer
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
However, the primary danger of alcohol abuse is that it often leads to alcohol addiction. Long-term excessive drinking can also result in liver cirrhosis, permanent damage that medical interventions can’t reverse. If left unchecked, alcohol abuse can even be fatal.
What Are Alcohol’s Effects on the Liver?
Your liver filters out toxins from the body, which includes harmful substances like alcohol. When you drink too much, too quickly, or too often, it can cause severe damage to your liver. Over time excessive consumption of alcohol leads to inflammation and scarring of the organ leading to cirrhosis or scarring of the tissue, which impairs its ability to function correctly.
Damage to the liver can result in reduced energy levels and even death in some cases. It is important to note that any amount of drinking affects your liver over time. However, heavy drinking accelerates this process significantly. Combining alcohol with other substances, such as drugs, can also increase the risk of liver damage.
How to Repair the Liver After Alcohol Abuse
The good news is that when caught early enough, you can take steps to restore your liver’s health after struggling with alcohol abuse. First and foremost, you must stop drinking as soon as possible. Doing so gives your body time to heal and start repairing itself naturally. If you find this hard to do, consider participating in an alcohol abuse treatment program.
Additionally, a balanced diet with plenty of antioxidants—such as fruits and vegetables—will help reduce inflammation and aid healing. Finally, regular physical activity such as walking or running will help ensure your body gets enough oxygen. This helps stimulate cell regeneration, thus aiding in repairing tissue damage caused by alcohol abuse. Taking supplements that contain S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) may also help.
What to Expect from Alcohol Abuse Treatment
Suppose you have decided that it is time for professional treatment. In that case, there are several things that you should expect from your treatment program, such as:
- Individualized care tailored specifically for you
- Access to resources such as 12-step programs or other recovery support services
- Education about addiction and its effects on both mental and physical health
- Learning relapse prevention strategies
- Support groups focused on helping those recovering from addiction
- Individualized aftercare planning
An alcohol abuse treatment program often also includes psychotherapy in several settings, such as family, group, and one-on-one. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is commonly used to address the underlying causes of alcohol abuse and help with relapse prevention.
If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol addiction, contact Ashwood Recovery. Our alcohol abuse treatment program is designed to provide you with the tools and resources necessary to repair your liver and make a lasting recovery from alcohol abuse.
Find Alcohol Abuse Treatment in Idaho at Ashwood Recovery
No matter where you are in Idaho, if you think you may be struggling with abuse or addiction due to excessive drinking, seek professional help and contact Ashwood Recovery today at 888.341.3607. Our experienced and highly qualified team of professionals can help you get your life back on track. Ask about our alcohol abuse treatment program and other addiction treatment services.