Is It Painful To Die From Liver Failure Due To Alcoholism?

According to the CDC, alcohol-related liver disease is responsible for approximately 55 percent of all cirrhosis deaths in the United States. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that alcohol-associated liver disease causes more than 22,000 deaths annually. Alcohol-related liver disease is now the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States, surpassing hepatitis C, which is a significant shift from just a decade ago.

Addiction treatment and the medications available to those living with alcohol addiction have been improving exponentially. It is important to seek treatment as soon as the substance is acknowledged.

The Four Stages of Alcoholism

The stages of alcohol use disorder are broadly described as experimental, social (or regular), harmful (or problematic), and compulsive. Each stage has specific behavioral and physical markers, and progression is not inevitable. Intervention at any stage can interrupt the cycle.

Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal is one of the only substance withdrawals that can be fatal. People with severe alcohol use disorder who stop drinking suddenly may experience a progression of symptoms beginning within 6–24 hours: tremors, sweating, and anxiety in mild cases; hallucinations at 12–48 hours; and potentially life-threatening seizures or delirium tremens (DTs) between 24–72 hours after the last drink. Delirium tremens, which is characterized by severe confusion, fever, rapid heart rate, and seizures, carries a mortality rate of up to 5 percent even with treatment.

Medical detox programs use FDA-approved medications, primarily benzodiazepines and sometimes phenobarbital, to significantly reduce withdrawal risk. Anyone who drinks heavily daily should never attempt to stop without medical supervision.

Alcoholic Liver Disease

There are three types of alcoholic liver disease:

• Alcoholic fatty liver disease (steatosis) is the earliest and most reversible stage, where fat accumulates in liver cells. It often causes no symptoms and can resolve with abstinence
• Alcoholic hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that can range from mild to life-threatening. Severe alcoholic hepatitis carries a 30-day mortality rate of up to 30 percent and requires hospitalization.
• Cirrhosis is permanent scarring of the liver. While progression can be slowed with abstinence and treatment, cirrhosis-related damage cannot be reversed. Liver transplantation may be the only life-saving option at advanced stages.

Additional Risk Factors for Alcoholic Liver Disease

Heavy drinking over time is the main cause of alcohol-related liver disease, but some people are at higher risk than others. Several factors can make someone more likely to develop serious liver problems from drinking, even if they consume the same amount of alcohol as someone else.

Contributing factors may include:

• Genetics: some people inherit genes that make it harder for their liver to break down alcohol safely, putting extra stress on the organ and increasing damage risk
• Demographics: men are generally at higher risk than women due to differences in body composition and alcohol processing, and certain ethnic groups have genetic variations that affect alcohol metabolism
• Malnutrition: people who drink heavily may replace nutritious food with alcohol’s empty calories, depriving the liver of essential nutrients needed for repair and protection
• Being Overweight: excess weight, especially around the midsection, adds extra strain to the liver and can lead to fatty liver disease that worsens with alcohol use
• Previously Diagnosed with Hepatitis: people with hepatitis B or C already have liver damage, making the organ much more vulnerable to additional harm from alcohol
• Age: older adults process alcohol more slowly and are at higher risk for liver damage due to the natural aging of liver cells
• Gender: women develop alcohol-related liver disease faster than men, even when drinking smaller amounts, due to differences in body water content and enzyme levels
• Diet: research suggests that regular coffee consumption may have a protective effect on the liver, while a diet high in saturated fat increases liver disease risk in heavy drinkers

People with multiple risk factors should be especially careful about alcohol consumption and discuss their individual risk with a healthcare provider.

Painful Symptoms Of Alcoholic Liver Disease

There are many symptoms of alcoholic liver disease, and as the disease progresses, it becomes painful.

These symptoms progress and include:

• jaundice
• blood in the digestive tract
• high blood pressure
• confusion
• swelling in the lower extremities
• fluid accumulating in the abdomen (ascites)
• severe abdominal pain
• variceal hemorrhage
• hepatic encephalopathy
• enlarged spleen
• kidney failure
• liver failure
• death

As alcoholic liver disease progresses, the liver becomes unable to function properly, and blood flow is compromised. Ascites may occur at this stage. The accumulation of fluid makes it difficult to breathe and is incredibly painful and uncomfortable. Kidney failure occurs and eventually leads to death due to organ failure.

Liver failure due to alcoholism is extremely painful, as the body shuts down slowly, and the complications from alcoholic liver disease can be all-encompassing. A person battling long-term alcoholism must understand that seeking alcohol use disorder treatment can help them stop drinking. While some of the effects of alcohol use disorder are irreversible, there is a chance that becoming sober may help heal some of the damage.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff