How Long Does It Take For A Human Liver To Regenerate?

The human liver is a miraculous organ. The only thing that it is different from others is because of the reason that it is capable of self-healing. It means, it can regenerate damaged tissues without external help. The impressive part of the regenerative system is that the organ can replace up to 75% of the damaged cells. And, it does the replacement at a faster rate. It is further possible for the organ to grow in size in three or four weeks, where it goes through a process similar to that of the embryonic stage.

The prolonged exposure to the consumption of alcohol has a severe impact on the functioning of the liver. The link between liver disease and alcohol consumption is not new to the world. Given the development in the technology and medical field, the doctors further identified that alcohol is the primary contributor in the development of cirrhosis and hepatitis. However, the doctors are still unable to find the exact reason for the occurrence at the cellular level.

Alcohol consumption and its digestion are different for both men and women. The dehydrogenase enzyme concentration is high in men when compared with that of women. The enzyme plays a crucial role in breaking down the alcohol. When the alcohol or ethanol reaches the liver, the organ produces the enzymes necessary for the digestion. When you are consuming the alcohol in excess, the liver fails to process it completely. It is here that you feel the effect of the alcohol as it enters the bloodstream.

The liver is the alone gland that is capable of healing automatically without the need of external assistance, such as the use of medicines. The time required for the liver to regenerate depends on the extent to which the damage occurred. For instance, if the death of the cells is between 50 and 60%, the liver is capable of replacing the dead cells with new cells within a month. It is only applicable if there are no additional complications.

You can expect complications if the regeneration is incomplete due to the development of scar tissue. Such a situation occurs when the damaging agent such as alcohol, a virus, or a drug is continuously attacking the liver and preventing the regeneration. It is difficult to reverse the damage caused once a scar tissue develops within the liver. Severe scarring leads to the development of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the indication of the end-stage liver disease.

As a general rule of thumb, no underlying liver problems, the consumption of quantity differs between men and women. Due to this, a man can consume two drinks on a single day while the female should limit the intake to one drink. A person with the underlying liver conditions such as hepatitis B or C should keep away from drinking any amount of alcohol. Even wine and beer are not safe for consumption.

Apart from alcohol, excess consumption of acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol) also damages the liver. Tylenol is a safe medication for pain is, fevers, and muscle aches. However, consuming in limited quantity is preferable. Excess consumption or exceeding the amount required can result in the death of the cells. An overdose of acetaminophen is the primary reason for liver transplantation.

The severe problem occurs for patients who consume excess alcohol and also take more than three tablets of Tylenol. A similar obstacle occurs in the victims suffering from diseases such as viral hepatitis.

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