According to Greek mythology, Zeus punished Prometheus for giving fire to humans. He chained Prometheus up and set an eagle to feast on his liver. Each night, the liver grew back and each day, the eagle returned for his feast. In reality, can a liver really grow back?
The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body. It is needed for hundreds of bodily processes, including breaking down toxins such as alcohol. As it is the first organ to “see” alcohol that has been drunk, it is not surprising that it is the most susceptible to alcohol’s effects. However, other organs, including the brain and heart, can also be damaged by long-term heavy alcohol use.
As a liver specialist, I meet people with alcohol-related liver disease every day. It is a
At first, alcohol makes the liver fatty. This fat causes the liver to become inflamed. In response, it tries to heal itself, producing scar tissue. If this carries on unchecked, the whole liver can become a mesh of scars with small islands of “good” liver in between – cirrhosis.
In the late stages of cirrhosis, when the liver fails, people can turn yellow (jaundice), swell with fluid, and become sleepy and confused. This is serious and can be fatal.
Most people who regularly drink more than the recommended limit of 14 units of alcohol per week (about six pints of normal strength beer [4 percent ABV] or about six average [175ml] glasses of wine [14 percent ABV]) will have a fatty liver. Long-term and heavy alcohol use increases the risk of developing
Good news
Fortunately, there is good news. In people with fatty liver, after only two to three weeks of giving up alcohol, the liver can heal and looks and functions
In people with liver inflammation or mild scarring, even within seven days of giving up alcohol, there are noticeable reductions in liver
In heavy drinkers with more severe scarring or liver failure, giving up alcohol for several years reduces their chance of
In its mild form, it causes shaking and sweating. But if severe, it can cause hallucinations, fits, and even death. Going “cold turkey” is never recommended for heavy drinkers, who should seek medical advice about how to safely give up alcohol.
Other benefits
Giving up drinking also has positive effects on
Avoiding alcohol for long periods also reduces the risk of several types of
However, alcohol is not the only cause of ill health. Giving it up has many health benefits, but it is not a panacea. It should be seen as part of a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular physical exercise.
So, to answer the question posed by the myth of Prometheus, the liver has an amazing power to repair itself after it has been damaged. But it cannot grow back as new if it was already severely scarred.
If you stop drinking and only have a fatty liver, it can quickly turn back to normal. If you had a scarred liver (cirrhosis) to start with, stopping alcohol will allow some healing and improved function but can’t undo all the damage that has already been done.
If you want to look after your liver, drink in moderation and have two to three alcohol-free days each week. That way, you won’t have to rely on the liver’s magical self-healing power to stay healthy.
This article is republished from