Did you know that at least one in three heavy alcohol drinkers develop liver damage? When alcohol comes into contact with the liver, the process will produce harmful substances that can damage the liver. If it continues, the process can lead to more serious permanent damage, namely cirrhosis. Before reaching the stage of cirrhosis, liver damage can still be restored by improving nutritional intake and stopping alcohol consumption completely. Many people even manage to make a full recovery in just a few months!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms and Asking for Help
Step 1. Identify early signs of liver damage
In the early stages, liver damage usually does not show any symptoms. However, if not treated immediately, your body will show the following symptoms:
- Discomfort in the stomach
- Decreased appetite
- Nausea or diarrhea
- Body tired quickly
Step 2. Watch for symptoms that indicate that your liver damage is getting worse
If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, immediately stop drinking alcohol completely and seek appropriate medical attention:
- Skin color and eyes turn yellowish
- Fluid buildup in the abdomen and legs (swollen legs)
- Fever
- Itchy rash
- Weight loss
- Hair loss
- Vomiting blood or blood in the stool (due to internal bleeding)
- Personality changes, memory loss, and insomnia
- Numb feet
- Swollen belly
- Melena (black stool)
- Vomiting blood
- Dizzy
Step 3. Stop drinking alcohol completely
Your liver function will not improve if you don't stop drinking alcohol. Ask for help and assistance from expert doctors; they can develop a medical plan that fits your needs. Some recovery options that you should try:
- Using drugs, such as baclofen
- Follow counseling
- Join relevant support groups, especially those organized specifically for alcoholics
- Outpatient
- Home care
Part 2 of 3: Improves Nutrition and Promotes Liver Cell Regeneration
Step 1. See a trusted nutritionist
A nutritionist can help develop a plan to improve your health by taking your medical history and allergies into account.
If you are acutely malnourished, you may need to use a feeding tube filled with special dietary fluids
Step 2. Eat high-energy foods
Liver damage makes your liver lose its function to store the energy your body needs. Therefore, make sure you eat foods that are high in energy so that the body's energy needs remain fulfilled.
- Eat at least 5-6 times in small portions, balanced also by eating healthy snacks.
- Increase your intake of simple carbohydrates such as fruits and complex carbohydrates such as whole wheat bread, potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, and beans.
- Complete your carbohydrate intake by consuming a reasonable amount of fat. If consumed properly, fat can provide additional energy needed by the body.
- If you lose weight, chances are your muscle tissue is no longer getting the nutrients it needs.
Step 3. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about the amount of protein your body needs
Your doctor's recommendations will vary greatly, depending on how severe your liver damage is.
- According to some sources, increasing protein consumption can contribute energy needed by the body.
- Meanwhile, according to several other sources, a damaged liver is no longer able to process protein. So instead of adding energy, the process will actually produce toxins that harm your body. In this case, you may need to reduce your protein intake.
Step 4. Take supplements rich in vitamins and minerals
Consuming B vitamins is very important, but make sure you also supplement it with vitamin K, phosphate, and magnesium.
- B vitamins are needed by the body to digest the food you eat and convert it into energy. Thiamine, folate, and pyridoxine are types of B vitamins that you should try.
- Fish, chicken, turkey, beef, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and leafy greens are all very rich in the B vitamins you need.
- If the food you eat does not meet the nutrients needed, usually your doctor or nutritionist will recommend some additional type of supplement. Make sure you always consult a healthcare professional before taking any additional supplements (including natural or herbal remedies) to make sure your liver is able to process these drugs.
Step 5. Reduce sodium consumption
Make sure you only consume a maximum of 1,500 mg of sodium per day. Reducing sodium intake prevents fluid buildup in your legs, stomach, and liver.
- Try to reduce – or eliminate – the amount of salt in your diet.
- Avoid processed foods which are usually very high in sodium.
Step 6. Drink plenty of water to flush out the toxins in your body
The water content needed by each person varies greatly, depending on the size of the body, activity, and the climate in which the person lives. In general, drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.
If you rarely urinate (or if your urine is dark in color), it's a sign that you need to drink more water
Step 7. Increase your appetite with regular light exercise
Exercise is very effective in improving your physical and mental health.
Ask your doctor what kind of exercise you need
Part 3 of 3: Treating Swollen Liver with Medication
Step 1. Make sure you only take medicines that are approved by your doctor
Always consult a doctor if you want to take over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, or other types of vitamins. They will determine whether your liver is able to process the drugs or not.
- Many over-the-counter or herbal medicines can actually harm your liver, such as aspirin, jin bu huan, ma-huang (ephedra), germander, valerian root, mistletoe, and skullcap.
- Do not take street drugs (drugs or stimulants that are sold illegally and can have a calming effect). Such drugs can further damage your liver health.
- Avoid toxic chemicals such as those found in fungicides, insecticides, aerosols, and other types of fumes. If you have to be around these substances, don't forget to wear a mask.
Step 2. Ask your doctor if you can take corticosteroids to relieve swelling
If your liver is completely damaged, these drugs may be able to help.
- Corticosteroids are not usually prescribed for patients with kidney failure, bleeding in the digestive tract, or infection.
- Your doctor will usually ask you to take prednisolone for 28 days. As long as you are taking steroids, they will continue to control your blood sugar levels.
- About two in five people do not feel helped by corticosteroids.
Step 3. Consider taking pentoxifylline if corticosteroids don't help you
Be careful, until now the use of these drugs is still controversial.
- But don't worry, your doctor is not new to the development of health science. They know whether current health science supports or opposes the use of the drug.
- Pentoxifylline prevents cytokines from aggravating your liver damage. For those of you who have mild to moderate liver damage, these drugs may be able to help.
- Sometimes, corticosteroids and pentoxifylline can be used together.
Step 4. Try taking anabolic steroids or propylthiouracil if your liver damage is not too severe
These drugs are controversial because their use is still not supported by strong scientific evidence.
- Anabolic steroids are a more powerful type of steroid.
- Propylthiouracil is actually a treatment for the thyroid.
Step 5. Discuss the possibility of a liver transplant with your doctor
If you already have liver failure, you will most likely need a liver transplant. In order for the transplant process to go well, you will need:
- Have stopped drinking alcohol
- Healthy enough to have surgery
- Willing to stop alcohol consumption for life
- Making sure all other treatments don't work
