Alcohol-related liver disease is a silent killer. Here are the early warning signs

Alcohol-related liver disease can often have little to no symptoms in the early stages, so it can be difficult to detect that anything is wrong.

But it's not uncommon. There's been a 46% increase in alcohol-related liver disease deaths across the UK in the past decade, according to the British Liver Trust. One in four of individuals who are diagnosed with this type of liver disease die within 60 days in hospital.

It’s also a concern as one in five people in the UK are estimated to drink over the low-risk limit of 14 units per week, with over 1.9 million people having a high-drinking level that could cause liver disease.

It's a topic that Reverend Richard Coles opened up brought up on I'm A Celebrity last night, while talking about the grief associated with the loss of his partner, David Oldham, who died from the illness in 2019 aged 43. "I miss him… I want him to walk in the door," he said. "He’s just left a massive hole in my life and I’m living my life around that loss."

Watch: Richard Coles and Oti Mabuse share their experiences of trauma on I'm A Celeb:

Coles referenced the disease in his book, The Madness of Grief: A Memoir of Love and Loss. "It was really, really tough to see somebody you love destroy himself," he wrote. "It is like someone is drowning and you throw them a lifebelt but they are just not taking the lifebelt. And I did try everything I could think of to help him stop drinking, and in fairness to him he did try too, but it was too much for him."

Why is alcohol-related liver disease known as a silent killer?

The NHS states that alcoholic liver disease "does not often cause symptoms until it’s reached an advanced stage" so it can also be difficult to detect in the beginning.

Vanessa Hebditch, director of communications and policy at the British Liver Trust said: "One of the main myths about liver disease is that it only affects alcoholics, in fact anyone drinking above the recommended weekly limit of 14 units is at risk of liver disease – and that includes about 1 in 5 adults in the UK."

In the UK, it has been reported that this form of liver disease is most prevalent in women under 45 and it’s one of the top causes of death in women aged 39 to 45, according to the ONS.

It’s recommended that adults stick to the alcohol intake guidelines and not drink more than 14 units a week. The NHS suggests to spread out your drinking across several days if you do use the full limit each week and to try to have several no-drinking days.

What are the early signs of alcoholic liver disease?

The NHS says the early symptoms are often "quite vague" and can be as common as loss of appetite, fatigue, stomach ache or feeling sick and diarrhoea. Hebditch adds: "Alcohol-related liver disease often has no symptoms until the late stages. Stigma around alcohol and liver disease also makes it hard for people to talk to their doctor if they’re worried."

Early signs:

• Loss of appetite

• Fatigue

• Stomach ache

• Feeling sick

• Diarrhoea

It’s only when the disease advances that the symptoms become more severe and it’s important to go to your GP if you experience any of these symptoms.

"If you think you could have liver damage, speak to your doctor now and don’t wait for symptoms or other warning signs – they may come too late," Hebditch continues. "Your doctor can do a quick and simple blood test or scan to check for liver damage. They can also help you make changes, such as cutting down on alcohol."

Advanced signs:

• Jaundice - yellowing of the skin

• Swelling of the legs, ankles or feet

• Swelling in the abdomen

• High temperature or shivering

• Hair loss

• Itchy skin

• Significant weight loss or muscle wasting

• Confusion, memory issues, insomnia

• Vomiting blood

The NHS also suggests taking the CAGE test, which is answering four questions to assess your drinking history to determine if you ever misuse alcohol.If the answer is yes to any of the questions below, the NHS recommends you speak to your GP.

The CAGE test:

• Have you ever thought you should cut down on your drinking?

• Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking?

• Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?

• Have you ever drunk an "eye-opener", which means: have you ever drunk alcohol first thing in the morning to get over a hangover and steady your nerves?

Not all liver disease is alcohol related, but there is over 12,000 cases a year of alcohol-related deaths from this form of liver disease.

To find out if you are risk of liver disease, visit the British Liver Trust’s online Love Your Liver screener

Read more about liver disease and alcohol:

• Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Is On The Rise ― Here Are Its Symptoms (Huff Post, 3-min read)

• The 5 Biggest Early Warning Signs Of Liver Damage (Huff Post, 4-min read)

• Four ways quitting alcohol helps you look and feel better (Yahoo Life, 4-min read)