The liver is one of the most important organs in the body.  It is located just under the lower rib cage in the upper 1/4 of the abdomen on the right side.  It is a large, soft organ and is intimately concerned with various digestive functions of the body.  It is closely associated with the formation of vitamin k in the body--that vitamin needed for proper blood clotting.  It also has an important function in the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates as well as in the manufacture and use of other vitamins such as the b vitamins.  Perhaps its most well known activity is the formation and storage of bile, the substance used in the digestion of fats.  In addition to these digestive actions, the liver is important in the storage and excretion of certain poisons that may be taken into the body.  Because of its various functions, the liver is not only one of the most important organs in the body, but also one of the most complex.

As is true of any body part, the liver can be affected by many agents either eaten or absorbed through the skin.  There are certain conditions where the liver becomes enlarged, tender and sensitive and shows signs of serious injury.  In some cases if the disease or disorder is not corrected, it can lead to permanent damage to the liver.  One such disease is cirrhosis.  Cirrhosis is a disorder where the liver becomes scarred, and the cells are injured in such a manner that they can no longer perform the functions necessary for the liver to do its part in keeping us healthy.

 There are many causes of cirrhosis, including infection from viruses, certain gall bladder problems, and probably the most common--alcoholic damage from excessive drinking.

Before the liver reaches the stage of permanent damage from cirrhosis, there are many changes taking place in the individual cells that can be discovered by your doctor through a series of tests and examinations, and the changes will also be noticed by the person affected by the disease.

There is a general deterioration of health characterized by weight loss, appetite loss, weakness and fatigue.  The loss of appetite is often masked in the alcoholic by heavy drink

ing, and this is often the case with the weight loss also.  As the disease progresses, there may be tenderness in the right upper part of the abdomen, and there may be changes in the skin such as small varicose veins and easy bruising of the skin.  These signs and symptoms are usually associated with nausea and vomiting and occasionally, yellow jaundice resulting from the liver's inability to handle bile properly.  The doctor may want a blood sample to test for certain chemicals in the body which will be found in excess because the liver is not able to clear them from the blood stream.

The liver eventually becomes wrinkled, granular, hard and scarred and does not function well.

Much needs to be learned about how cirrhosis occurs in the presence of alcohol overuse.  Some scientists feel that it is not the alcohol itself that causes the problem so much as the malnutrition that almost invariably accompanies the use of alcohol and poor eating habits consequent to it.

 There is no form of alcohol that is incapable of producing cirrhosis of the liver.  Beer, wine, vodka, gin, bourbon, blended whiskey and homebrew are all capable of producing the disease. A pint of whiskey provides about 1500 calories, and an equivalent amount of alcohol consumed as beer will provide even more calories.  Therefore with even a small amount of food, an alcohol dependent person may maintain his weight for a long period of time.

While there are many diseases that are becoming easier to treat, cirrhosis is not one of them. In fact, once the diagnosis is made there is nothing that can be done to cure the patient of the damage already done.  This means that the person should follow his doctor's advice so that further damage to the liver is prevented.  Treatment is usually aimed at maintaining good nutrition by using high carbohydrate foods, and there is an attempt to control the amount of protein taken in so that the liver is not worked too hard.

If the disease progresses and complications occur, the outlook is quite poor.  In advanced cases of cirrhosis, there may be mental dullness and clouding with hallucinations.  There may be enlargement of the veins in the upper abdomen and the lower esophagus, which is the tube that connects the mouth and the stomach.  These veins will frequently rupture and cause a large amount of bleeding, thus endangering the life of the patient.  The body tends to accumulate fluid in the abdomen and legs, and the patient may even progress to frank coma and death.