Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Natural Recovery By The Liver And Other Organs After Chronic Alcohol Use, Paul G. Thomes, Karuna Rasineni, Viswanathan Saraswathi, Kusum K. Kharbanda, Dahn L. Clemens, Sarah A. Sweeney, Jacy L. Kubik, Terrence M. Donohue, Carol A. Casey

Journal Articles: Internal Medicine

Chronic, heavy alcohol consumption disrupts normal organ function and causes structural damage in virtually every tissue of the body. Current diagnostic terminology states that a person who drinks alcohol excessively has alcohol use disorder. The liver is especially susceptible to alcohol-induced damage. This review summarizes and describes the effects of chronic alcohol use not only on the liver, but also on other selected organs and systems affected by continual heavy drinking-including the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, heart, and bone. Most significantly, the recovery process after cessation of alcohol consumption (abstinence) is explored. Depending on the organ and whether there is relapse, …