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What are the early signs of liver damage?

Answered by Dr. Stephen Loyd M.D. 11

The first stage of liver damage is inflammation, but most people that experience liver damage from drinking do not show any early signs. In fact, liver damage can progress through several stages before they or their doctor notices anything is wrong. Most people do not realize they have a problem until they reach the point where built-up scar tissue is impeding proper liver function.

When the symptoms do become noticeable, they usually include:

  • A general sense of being unwell
  • Having a lower tolerance for alcohol
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Experiencing severe hangovers
  • A lack of appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain in the upper right quadrant
  • Abdominal protrusion

Healthy Smooth Liver, Damaged Discolored Textured Liver

What are the stages of liver damage?

Liver disease from alcoholism can be divided into the following stages:

  • Inflammation
  • Fibrosis
  • Cirrhosis
  • Liver cancer
  • Liver failure (End-stage liver disease)

As the liver progresses through these stages, the prognosis becomes more serious and it’s less likely that the cells of the liver can recover from the damage they have sustained. Treatment and management of liver damage also becomes more complicated.

Liver problems from drinking usually progress from fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis, and finally to cirrhosis. Once an individual develops cirrhosis of the liver, the damage cannot be reversed. However, abstaining from alcohol and adhering to treatment protocol can prevent the disease and its symptoms from getting worse.  

Where is your liver?

The liver is located in the upper right quadrant of your abdomen. It sits above the stomach but beneath the diaphragm. The size is similar to a football. Any pain or abnormalities in this area could signal liver problems.

What is Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

Alcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition of the liver caused by heavy alcohol consumption, seen in 20 percent of chronic drinkers. With this disease, fat deposits build up in the liver (also known as steatosis). This causes inflammation that reduces hepatic function.

Inflammation can cause liver pain on the right side of the body, but not always. If left untreated, it will progress into more serious forms of liver damage. I have treated many patients who delayed care at this stage and ended up with permanent liver damage down the road. For treatment to work, the patient has to stop drinking immediately.
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease graphic

What is Alcoholic Hepatitis (Liver Fibrosis)?

Alcoholic hepatitis is a condition where the liver becomes inflamed, resulting in damage to the cells of the organ. Roughly 35% of long-term heavy drinkers develop this condition. For many people with fibrosis, there either are no symptoms or they are so minor that patients fail to realize something is wrong. At this stage, liver damage can still be treated, and much of the damage will heal. However, if left untreated or the individual starts drinking again, alcoholic hepatitis is likely to progress into cirrhosis, which is chronic.

Symptoms: Potentially none at first, then:

  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
  • Fever
  • Pain or tenderness in the right upper abdomen

In severe cases, there’s a 50% mortality rate. If drinking continues, 40% will develop into cirrhosis.
Alcoholic Hepatitis graphic

What is Alcoholic Cirrhosis?

Alcoholic cirrhosis develops when the scar tissue from alcoholic hepatitis builds up to the point that it overwhelmingly replaces healthy liver tissue. This impairs blood flow and other critical components of healthy liver function. For many people suffering from alcoholic liver damage, this is the stage where symptoms become clearer. Signs that cirrhosis has developed include:

Early Liver Problem Symptoms

  • Feeling tired or weak
  • Poor appetite
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Mild pain or discomfort in the upper right side of your abdomen

Distinct Symptoms

  • Red palms
  • Shortening of muscles in the fingers
  • White nails or thickening and widening of the fingers and nails

Late-Stage Symptoms

  • Bruising and bleeding easily
  • Confusion, difficulty thinking, memory loss, personality changes, or sleep disorders
  • Swelling in your lower legs, ankles or feet
  • Bloating from the buildup of fluid in your abdomen
  • Severe itchy skin
  • Darkening of the color of your urine
  • Jaundice
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Liver failure

If left untreated, alcoholic cirrhosis is deadly. However, with the right treatment and a commitment to sobriety, upwards of 90 percent of see positive outcomes.

Alcoholic Cirrhosis graphic

How do you know if your liver is failing when there are no early symptoms?

Despite there not being many early symptoms of liver disease and failure, there is a clear indicator that you are likely incurring damage: heavy and/or frequent drinking. If you have a problematic relationship with alcohol, there is a strong chance that your liver has sustained damage.

Long before your body begins displaying symptoms, liver damage can be detected in bloodwork. This is due to liver cells dying at a higher rate than they naturally would. Liver enzymes, including SGPT, SGOT, and GGTP, will show up on the tests as being elevated. The higher their levels, the worse the condition of the liver. When someone is displaying these symptoms, I order bloodwork checking for these enzymes at the beginning of treatment, and then subsequently follow up as the levels stabilize.

Why do alcoholics get yellow skin?

Yellowing of the skin and eyes is a condition known as jaundice. This occurs when the liver is unable to properly process waste material which is normally excreted in the feces. If the liver is unable to remove it, the material builds up and starts to alter the color of the skin and eyes.

Yellow eyes and skin from jaundice, a symptom of liver damage

How much drinking causes liver damage?

Because everyone’s biology and genetics are different, there is no way to determine how much alcohol a person can drink before they get liver damage. Most people develop liver damage after years of heavy drinking, but new data suggests that binge drinking can also cause liver issues. The CDC recommends that men should drink no more than 2 drinks per day (1 for women). Exceeding these amounts will put you at a greater risk of developing liver problems.

When should I see a doctor to get my liver tested?

You should have your liver checked if you meet any of the following criteria:

  • You have a problem with drugs or alcohol
  • You are showing symptoms of liver problems (pain, jaundice, tiredness, etc.)
  • Your family has a history of liver problems
  • You take medications that are known to cause liver damage

Can the liver repair itself after years of drinking?

In most cases, the answer is yes. While it is possible for liver damage to be too significant to reverse, most of my patients are able to partially or wholly restore their liver function by stopping drinking and getting the right treatment. Because liver cells can regenerate easier than those of other organs, treatment usually leads to a positive outcome.

  1. The best treatment is early detection.
  2. Stopping your drinking will always improve your outcome.
  3. Addiction treatment centers (like JourneyPure’s veterans drug rehab) can help you stop drinking for good.

JourneyPure.com doctors follow rigorous sourcing guidelines and cite only trustworthy sources of information, including peer-reviewed journals, count records, academic organizations, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports and their own expertise with decades in the fields and their own personal recovery.

  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: “The Epidemiology of Alcoholic Liver Disease.”
    World Journal of Hepatology: Symptoms and Signs of Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis.”
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Symptoms & Causes of Cirrhosis.”

Disclaimer

All content is for informational purposes only. No material on this site, whether from our doctors or the community, is a substitute for seeking personalized professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard advice from a qualified healthcare professional or delay seeking advice because of something you read on this website.

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  • Mary McGarvey says:
    March 9, 2021 at 6:03 pm

    Hi Doctor! I found your info here because a friend is in dire trouble from drinking, now in ICU. It’s well written and clear, but I have a suggestion: that cartoon of a lady with jaundice just looks unprofessional or fake. Why not put a photo of a healthy man and a man with jaundice, and better yet, the same man after treatment. That is what people need to see: the real thing! I had never seen anyone with jaundice so I was looking for a real photo. It would also give fortitude to those in despair, that they have ruined their health if they have jaundice. You could show how it can be cured with before/after photos. Please use a man (young and good looking of course) as the men are often the heavy drinkers. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Dr. Stephen Loyd M.D. says:
      March 17, 2021 at 10:00 am

      Hi Mary, great suggestion! I worked with our design team to incorporate real photos of jaundice skin and eyes instead of the illustration. Thank you for helping us make this blog a better resource. I’m glad you found the information helpful, and I wish you and your friend all the best!

      Reply
  • Matthew says:
    October 15, 2020 at 2:36 am

    Thank you for this informative information. I have been struggling with alcoholism for some time, and I have started feeling abdominal pain. I am 36 and have been drinking heavily for at least ten years. I've been to rehab a couple times, but haven't been able to maintain sobriety. Now I'm scared I might have damaged my liver.

    Reply
    • Dr. Stephen Loyd M.D. says:
      October 20, 2020 at 8:11 pm

      Hi Matthew, you’re welcome! I know it can get discouraging when you're struggling to stay sober, but don’t give up! Many people don’t get sober on their first try – it doesn’t mean that you can’t do it this time around.

      If I could offer you any advice, I would look for an inpatient program with a strong medical team. This way, you’ll have the medical and clinical staff to treat your physical symptoms while you address the root causes of your drinking. The sooner you address both the drinking and the pain, the better. Minor liver damage is reversible, but only if you treat it early.

      Reply
  • Valerie Isley says:
    September 22, 2020 at 7:38 pm

    Thank you. This article explains what I have been telling my stepdaughter, who was informed she had early signs of liver disease one week after my husband passed from encephalopathy.
    Thankfully after our last go round, she is disabled and lives with me. She has started AA.
    This article will be of great help in her understanding of this disease.

    Reply
    • Dr. Stephen Loyd M.D. says:
      September 28, 2020 at 2:20 pm

      Hi Valerie, I’m so sorry to hear about your husband’s passing. Losing a loved one is never easy, but I’m overjoyed to hear that it inspired your stepdaughter to start attending meetings. It is so crucial to stay connected to others who are in recovery, especially in those first few months of sobriety. Best of luck to her and you as well!

      Reply
  • José R Diaz says:
    December 19, 2020 at 5:19 pm

    Hi DR i was drinking for24 Years and i stop IT but i drink wine 4 glass a day can that be a problemas or danger

    Reply
    • Dr. Stephen Loyd M.D. says:
      February 5, 2021 at 9:00 am

      Hi José,

      Yes, drinking that much wine can be dangerous. The type of alcohol doesn’t matter. All forms of alcohol, including wine, can cause health problems.

      If you’re worried about how much you’re drinking, try taking an online assessment. If you answer Yes to any of the questions, I recommend getting an official assessment from your healthcare provider or a treatment center that specializes in alcohol use disorder.

      Best of luck to you!

      Reply
    • Sean says:
      March 22, 2021 at 2:29 pm

      4 drinks is 4 drinks, regardless of what kind of alcohol it is.

      Reply
  • Shannon smith says:
    October 16, 2020 at 7:09 pm

    Can you have liver failure if you never drink alcohol ? My doctor told me my liver test was high. I never have drink alcohol. He want me to a ultrasound of my liver.

    Reply
    • Dr. Stephen Loyd M.D. says:
      October 20, 2020 at 3:59 pm

      Hi Shannon! Liver failure can happen even if you never drink, but it’s rare. When it does happen, it is usually caused by hepatitis or taking too much of certain medications, like acetaminophen.

      Continue to work with your doctor to investigate the results of your liver test, including having an ultrasound. Whatever is causing the elevated results needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Best of luck to you!

      Reply

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Dr. Loyd has practiced internal medicine for two decades. He served as an expert witness for the U.S. Attorney, F.B.I. and D.E.A. against doctors improperly prescribing addictive medications. Dr. Loyd is a member of the governor’s subcabinet and associate professor at ETSU. He's been featured in hundreds of news articles, including The Today Show and the New York Times. He's the Chief Medical Officer here at JourneyPure. He's also in recovery himself.

  • Served as an expert witness for the U.S. Attorney, F.B.I. and D.E.A. against doctors improperly prescribing addictive medications
  • Member of the governor’s subcabinet and associate professor at ETSU

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