What are the effects of excessive alcohol consumption on the Liver?
When a person drinks alcohol, if they are sensitive to it or they over drink it…this is what may take place: The liver cells makes enzymes. When alcohol is consumed, the liver takes the alcohol and using enzymes converts it first into acetaldehyde, then into acetate and from there into carbon dioxide and water. The liver cells need time to do this function. If it is flooded with alcohol, the liver may start these functions but not get pass where the first step in its conversion which would be the acetaldehyde stage. This is where the problem occurs. Both unconverted alcohol and acetaldehyde can become toxic to the liver if not converted further and damage the liver cells. When the liver cells become damaged, the immune system of the body responds to this damage and causes inflammation to develop inside the liver. If this develops, even though the liver is surrounded by a tight membrane capsule, the liver will enlarge in size. (this can be seen with tests such as an ultrasound or ct s
