Years of heavy alcohol consumption can have significant effects on the body, with the heart, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract some of the most commonly afflicted. Of these organs and bodily systems, the liver is one of the most susceptible to alcohol-related damage. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 44.5% of liver disease deaths in 2023 were caused in part by alcohol. Despite this, healing the liver is possible, even after long-term alcohol abuse. How long does it take your liver to heal from alcohol use? Learn the answer below, and find out what you can do today to start the process.
How Alcohol Damages the Liver
In humans, the liver is the organ responsible for processing the nutrients obtained through food. Alcohol passes through the liver like anything else you eat or drink and is metabolized, or broken down, in two ways. Most of the alcohol is metabolized by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase, producing acetaldehyde, a toxic compound. Some of this acetaldehyde is further metabolized to create acetate, which eventually exits the body as carbon dioxide and water. The acetaldehyde that isn’t further metabolized has the potential to greatly damage the body.
Acetaldehyde contributes to the “hungover” feeling you might have the morning after a night of heavy drinking. Over time, it can also damage your DNA, potentially causing cancer. And while part of the liver’s job is to break down potentially harmful substances, such as acetaldehyde, consuming toxins in excess leaves your liver with more of these substances than it can effectively process.
A few weeks or months of regular heavy drinking is enough to begin to damage the liver cells, and this destruction of the organ is only exacerbated as alcohol use is extended into the long term. Over time, this can lead to numerous conditions, including alcoholic hepatitis, alcohol-associated liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Signs of Liver Stress and Damage
With some forms of liver damage, such as liver cancer, people often have no symptoms until the damage reaches its advanced stages. Other forms may display a range of identifying signs, some of which include:
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes
- Fever
- Confusion
- Pain in the upper right section of the abdomen
- Unintentional weight loss
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- A hard or swollen feeling in the stomach
- Swollen ankles or legs
Treatments and Lifestyle Changes for Liver Recovery
Luckily, it’s possible to mitigate the effects of alcohol on the liver with a few lifestyle changes and medical treatments. Here’s how to cleanse your liver of excessive alcohol consumption.
Eat a Balanced Diet
To ensure the liver has access to the nutrients it needs to repair itself, it’s important to eat a balanced diet. This means eating well-rounded meals and snacks that contain a healthy level of protein and calories. Leafy greens, avocados, oily fish, nuts, berries, beetroot and coffee are foods that support liver function. Avoiding processed foods that contain unhealthy levels of sugar, salt and saturated fats can also promote healing.
Exercise Regularly
Just like healthy eating, regular exercise can aid liver recovery. Research suggests that physical activity improves the flow of blood to the liver and decreases inflammation in the organ. If you’re new to exercise, starting with moderate activity can make a difference right away. For example, a brisk half-hour walk one day, followed by body weight resistance training the next, can help you access some of the healing benefits of exercise on alcohol-related liver conditions. From there, you can increase the intensity of your daily exercises as you build strength and endurance.
Try a Medical Treatment
Some medical treatments are available if you need extra help with liver detoxification. A medication-assisted detox uses medication to aid the withdrawal symptoms that often follow a reduction in alcohol consumption. Certain corticosteroids have been prescribed to aid liver health, though the effectiveness of this form of treatment requires further research.
Stop Drinking
Eliminating alcohol consumption from your lifestyle entirely is one of the most effective ways to heal your liver. Since consuming alcohol is the source of alcohol-related liver damage, quitting alcohol or at least significantly reducing your alcohol intake allows the organ to repair itself.
If you have a history of heavy alcohol consumption, you may have developed a dependency on the substance. If this is the case, you may suffer from withdrawal symptoms during your attempts to abstain. To avoid this, you can reduce your alcohol intake gradually and develop a plan to mitigate the effects.
How Long Does It Take Your Liver to Heal From Alcohol?
Most of the lifestyle changes listed above can be implemented right away. But how long does it take for the liver to heal once they’re put into place? The truth is that the recovery timeline varies depending on several factors, including the amount of alcohol you previously consumed, how long the alcohol consumption lasted and your age, weight and any co-occurring health conditions you might have.
Even a few weeks without drinking alcohol can help reduce liver inflammation, particularly following moderate alcohol consumption. If you consume heavily, however, you may need anywhere from a few months to a few years of diligent lifestyle changes to see lasting improvements. This timeline is extended if you plan on incorporating alcohol consumption back into your lifestyle. If you’ve already contracted conditions such as cirrhosis, even a single drink can become a setback to recovery.
Protecting Your Long-Term Health — With a Little Support
Healing your liver after a history of alcohol use is a long-term pursuit, one that’s made easier by external support. At Sun Health Center, our team of compassionate experts is prepared to develop a personalized treatment plan just for you. If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction and looking to make a healthy change, our state-of-the-art facilities are a great place to start. Contact us today to book an appointment.
