Alcohol And Hepatitis C

Alcohol And Hepatitis C - A Dangerous Mix

Alcohol and hepatitis C appear to be a very bad match. Anyone who uses alcohol and is already infected with the hepatitis C virus is probably risking even more serious liver damage, cirrhosis and possibly even liver cancer.

The negative relationship between alcohol and hepatitis C has been linked in several studies. These studies have indicated that heavy alcohol consumption accelerates the progression from hepatitis C to cirrhosis and eventually to a form of liver cancer known as hepatocellular carcinoma. Heavy use of alcohol during alcoholic hepatitis treatment can compromise therapy with antiviral medications like interferon.

Research has also indicated that even moderate alcohol use may hasten cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus, which is also commonly called HCV, triggers inflammation in the liver. Left untreated, it can lead to more serious liver problems. The virus is transmitted most often blood-to-blood transfer (often by intravenous drug users re-using needles). Health authorities estimate that approximately four million people in the United States have been infected, which makes hepatitis C the country's number one blood–borne disease.

Hepatitis C causes between 10,000 and 12,000 deaths each year in the U.S.

Doctors and researchers aren't sure why there is a negative correlation between alcohol and hepatitis C, but they've been able to put forward some possibilities.

It's been demonstrated that when the alcohol is broken down by ther liver, a number of toxins are produced. These toxins result in irritation and inflammation of the liver, which in turn causes liver cell destruction. As more and more cells are destroyed, scars begin to form where there had previously been healthy liver tissue. This scarring is known as cirrhosis.

While hepatitis C can be aggravated by the use of alcohol, it should also be noted that there is a form of hepatitis known as alcoholic hepatitis, which is primarily caused by alcohol consumption.

Alcoholic hepatitis symptoms rarely present themselves in the early stages of the disease. But as it progresses, the following alcoholic hepatitis symptoms are likely to appear:

• A fever and occasional lightheadedness
• Abnormal thirst
• An accumulation of fluid in the abdomen known as ascites
• Frequent fatigue
• Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes
• Nausea and vomiting, sometimes mixed with blood
• Pain and tender in the abdominal area
• Unexpected weight gain even though you have very little appetite

Alcoholic hepatitis symptoms vary from one person to another, but symptoms are likely to intensify when you've been drinking a lot, especially after "binges."

If you have any of these alcoholic hepatitis symptoms, or a combination of them, see a doctor as soon as you can. Alcoholic hepatitis may cause serious conditions such as gastrointestinal hemorrhage (a medical emergency).

Abstaining from the use of alcohol before and during alcoholic hepatitis treatment has been shown to improve an individual's response to interferon therapy, although this improvement is not complete. Doctors recommend that patients avoid alcohol consumption totally during alcoholic hepatitis treatment. In fact, they should be alcohol free for at least six months before starting on interferon.   

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