Excessive drinking during pandemic leading to spike in liver transplants

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Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Excessive drinking prompting a spike in liver transplants
People have been drinking more during the pandemic, leading to a huge spike in the need for liver transplants.

People have been drinking more during the pandemic, leading to a huge spike in the need for liver transplants.

Researchers say those receiving transplants or on a wait list due to alcoholic hepatitis went up 50% higher than what was predicted.

Alcoholic hepatitis causes the liver to stop processing alcohol, which could lead to irreversible liver damage.

It normally takes years of heavy drinking to prompt this condition, but it can also happen after a short period of excess.