Your liver is one of your body's hardest-working organs; it works around the clock to filter out toxins and keep your body running smoothly. When you drink alcohol, your liver has to work overtime to process it, which can cause damage in the long run.
What Really Happens When You Drink
When you have an alcoholic drink, your liver breaks down the alcohol into a substance called acetaldehyde. While it may sound simple, acetaldehyde is actually toxic to your liver cells.
Here's what typically happens over time with heavy drinking:
- Your liver starts storing extra fat (fatty liver disease)
- The liver becomes inflamed and irritated (hepatitis)
- Scar tissue begins to form (cirrhosis)
- In some cases, cancer cells may develop
The good news is that this progression isn't guaranteed, and it usually takes years of heavy drinking to reach the more serious stages. Most doctors consider heavy drinking to be more than three to four drinks per day. If you're drinking at this level regularly, your risk of liver cancer increases significantly compared to people who drink less or not at all.
Can You Drink Safely?
The honest answer is that there's no completely "safe" amount of alcohol when it comes to liver cancer. However, moderate drinking appears to carry much lower risks for most healthy people.
Moderate drinking means:
- One drink per day for women
- Two drinks per day for men
At these levels, most people have a relatively low risk of developing liver cancer.
Are You at Higher Risk?
Some people need to be extra careful about alcohol, even in small amounts. You might be at higher risk if you have:
Hepatitis: If you have hepatitis B or C, even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous for your liver.
Weight Issues: Being overweight or having diabetes puts extra stress on your liver. Adding alcohol to the mix makes things even worse.
Family History: If liver problems or liver cancer run in your family, you might be more likely to develop problems too.
Taking Care of Your Liver
The best way to prevent liver cancer is to limit how much you drink or avoid alcohol altogether. But taking care of your liver involves more than just watching your alcohol intake.
You can help protect your liver by:
- Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Staying at a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly
- Getting vaccinated against hepatitis A and B
- Being careful about mixing alcohol with medications
- Getting regular check-ups that include liver function tests
When to Seek Help
If you're concerned about your drinking or your liver health, do not hesitate to talk to a doctor. They can run simple blood tests to check how well your liver is working and help you understand your personal risk factors.
Consider seeing a doctor if you experience symptoms like persistent fatigue, abdominal pain, yellowing of your skin or eyes, or unusual bruising. These could be signs that your liver needs attention.
If you're worried about your liver health or want to discuss your alcohol consumption and cancer risk, contact Astera Cancer Care to schedule a consultation with our specialists. We're here to help you understand your individual risk and make the best decisions for your health.