Patient's question:
My colleague recently developed alcoholic liver disease, and he looks completely lacking in energy. He has to stay in the hospital many times a year, it is said that it's because of drinking too much beer. I also enjoy drinking beer and can handle a lot of it. Seeing his condition, I'm very worried that I might get the same disease. Is alcoholic liver disease caused by drinking beer?Doctor's answer:
Alcoholic liver disease, also known as alcoholic fatty liver disease, is the earliest and most common form of inflammation among alcoholic liver diseases. It is a liver injury disease caused by long-term heavy alcohol consumption (alcoholism). Most cases of alcoholic fatty liver disease are asymptomatic, while moderate to severe alcoholic fatty liver disease can present symptoms similar to chronic hepatitis, such as mild general discomfort, fatigue, easy exhaustion, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, and abdominal pain. When deciding on medications for liver disease treatment, it is advisable to choose natural herbal liver-protecting drugs with fewer side effects to safeguard the liver, as some medications for liver diseases have significant side effects, which can cause secondary liver damage.