It’s a serious condition that affects people who are, or used to be, heavy drinkers. It can cause short- or long-term liver damage.
The liver is the largest organ in the body, and it removes poisons such as alcohol from the blood. When it’s damaged by decades of heavy drinking, it can become inflamed, scarred, and fatty. Over time, it stops working right. Up to 35% of long-time heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis.