DRINKAWARE
The 3 common risk factors that mean your social boozing habits could turn deadly revealed
Plus, what to do if you think you're an alcoholic
WE'RE all aware of the health risks associated with alcohol.
Countless studies have linked increased risk of stroke, heart disease and cancer to unhealthy drinking habits.
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But now scientists have pinpointed three common risk factors that when mixed with too much alcohol can increase your risk of another deadly, alcohol-related condition - advanced liver disease.
Alcohol consumption is the most common cause of liver disease in the UK, accounting for six in 10 cases.
Up to one in five people in the UK drink alcohol in a way that could harm their liver, according to the British Liver Trust.
A new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology from found heavy drinkers with either diabetes, high blood pressure or a high waist circumference are as much as 2.4 times more likely to develop advanced liver disease.
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“The results identify a very high-risk segment of the population prone to liver disease and suggest that preexisting health issues may have a large impact on how alcohol affects the liver,” said , a hepatologist and liver transplant specialist with Keck Medicine and principal investigator of the study.
Diabetes, high blood pressure and a high waist circumference (35 inches for women; 40 inches for men), which is associated with obesity, belong to a cluster of five health conditions that influence a person's risk for heart attack and stroke.
These are known as cardiometabolic risk factors.
They've been linked to the buildup of fat in the liver, which can lead to fibrosis, a type of liver disease where scarring has occurred.
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Fibrosis can limit blood flow and eventually lead to organ failure.
These risk factors are considered significant health problems in the UK, and have also been worsening among Americans, especially those under 35, said Lee.
Binge drinking nearly ruined my life at just 19
Alcohol consumption has been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, noted Lee.
So due to the prevalence of both cardiometabolic risk factors and current drinking habits, Lee and his fellow researchers carried out the study to discover which cardiometabolic risk factors predisposed the liver to damage from alcohol.
As part of the study, they analysed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey - a large national survey of more than 40,000 participants looking at heavy drinking habits, individual cardiometabolic risk factors and cases of significant liver fibrosis.
Heavy drinking was characterised as 1.5 drinks a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
As well as finding heavy drinkers with either diabetes or high waist circumference were 2.4 times more likely to develop advanced liver disease, those with high blood pressure were found to be 1.8 times more likely.
Having high triglycerides (elevated levels of a type of fat in the blood) and low HDL (high-density lipoprotein or 'good' cholesterol) had weaker links to liver disease.
NHS guidelines on drinking alcohol
According to the NHS, regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week risks damaging your health.
To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:
- men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
- spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
- if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week
If you're pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.
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But Lee emphasised the study doesn't imply that it's safe to drink among those without these cardiometabolic risk factors.
“We know that alcohol is toxic to the liver and all heavy drinkers are at risk for advanced liver disease,” he said.
The researchers hope the results of the study will encourage people to consider their individual health more when making decisions about drinking.
They would also like to see doctors offer more personalised health screenings and interventions for those who drink with cardiometabolic risk factors so liver disease can be caught early and treated.
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Early signs of alcohol-related liver disease
Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) tends to not have any noticeable symptoms until their liver is badly damaged.
But if early signs do show, the NHS says the following symptoms may occur:
- abdominal pain (stomach ache)
- loss of appetite
- fatigue
- feeling sick
- diarrhoea
- feeling generally unwell
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Contact your GP for advice if you have a history of regular alcohol misuse.
What to do if you think are an alcoholic
IF you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, the most important thing is to recognise the problem and seek support - You don’t have to face it alone.
Seek Professional Help
- GP or Doctor – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options.
- Therapists or Counsellors – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies.
- Rehab or Detox Programmes – If physical dependence is severe, medically supervised detox may be necessary.
Consider Support Groups
- (AA) – A well-known 12-step programme that provides peer support.
- – A science-based alternative to AA, focusing on self-empowerment.
- – Many communities have groups tailored to different needs.
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