Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to jaundice due to decreased liver function or permanent liver damage. Liver damage from alcohol occurs in three stages: fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Jaundice can also be a sign of other health problems not related to alcohol.
Excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time can lead to jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes, due to the presence of bilirubin in the blood. This is the result of decreased liver function or permanent liver damage. Alcohol and jaundice aren’t always related, however, as jaundice can be a sign of several health problems.
Liver damage from alcohol consumption occurs in three stages: fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and finally cirrhosis of the liver. Fatty liver indicates that the liver is not completely metabolizing fat. It can be diagnosed by a liver function test, which measures the amount of unmetabolized fat in the blood. Jaundice is not usually seen in this stage of liver disease. Mild fatty liver is not dangerous, but if alcohol consumption is not reduced, it can lead to increasingly harmful stages of liver disease.
The connection between alcohol and jaundice begins to be seen in the second stage of alcoholic liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis. In this stage, the liver becomes inflamed as alcohol causes it to stop metabolizing fat, protein or carbohydrates. This leads to a buildup of toxins, including bilirubin, in the bloodstream. Patients who experience jaundice or other symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis, including fever, bloating, and loss of appetite, should see a doctor right away. If all alcohol consumption is stopped, the liver damage may still be repairable.
If alcohol consumption continues, cirrhosis of the liver usually occurs. This condition causes the liver to harden due to the buildup of scar tissue. In this stage, alcohol and jaundice usually link up, as liver function continues to decline. The damage due to cirrhosis is not reversible and is often fatal, although a liver transplant may be an option for some patients.
Although heavy drinking and jaundice are often seen together, not all alcoholics develop jaundice. Genetics, age and gender all appear to play a role in the chances of developing liver problems from excessive alcohol consumption. Women are more likely than men to experience liver damage from alcohol. Some people’s livers also appear to be genetically predisposed to alcohol-related problems, although the exact causes of this are not known as of 2011.
Additionally, jaundice can result from different types of health problems that are not related to alcohol. Other types of hepatitis, which can be blood-borne or food-borne, can cause yellowing of the skin and eyes. Infections or blockages of the gallbladder and some types of malaria can also lead to yellow skin.
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