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Alcoholic liver failures rising in dry Gujarat

It is ironic but despite prohibition in Gujarat, the state has seen a huge rise in liver ailments due to consumption of alcohol.

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It is ironic but despite prohibition in Gujarat, the state has seen a huge rise in liver ailments due to consumption of alcohol. The rise in alcohol-induced health hazards speaks volumes about the state’s indisciplined pattern of liquor use.

Dr Deval Parikh, president of Gujarat Gastroenteritis Society, said, “The cases of alcoholic liver failure in the state have more than doubled in recent years. Due to increase in habit of drinking the incidence of liver ailments have increased manifold.”

With rising influence of westernised lifestyle, alcohol is no longer taboo in homes.

“However, due to prohibition the awareness on disciplined drinking that prevails in the developed western countries is lacking in the state. Due to occasional yet unrestrained drinking liver failure cases have more than doubled,” explained Dr Parikh.

About 25% of the total liver failure cases in the city are occurring due to binge drinking, reveal experts. Dr Hitesh Chavda, head of liver transplant department of Sterling Hospital, said “The prime factor in more than 25% of the liver failure cases is irrational use of alcohol. The age group of the liver failure patients is 30 to 45.” More and more youngsters are drawn towards use of alcohol under peer pressure.

Dr Shravan Bohra, liver specialist at Apollo Hospitals, reiterated what the other doctors said. “There is an alarming rise in number of cases of heavy drinking induced liver ailments in the state during recent years. The number of cases of liver damage have almost doubled during the last few years. There is a noticeable rise in cases of women and adolescents affected by ailments of liver including liver failure due to heavy drinking.”

The trendy binge drinking parties which are quite in vogue in the city since last couple of years are the main cause behind rise in liver ailments among women and teens whose tender livers are more susceptible to harmful effects of liquor, observe experts. 

“Many who consume liquor regularly do not know the amount of alcohol which a live can tolerate at one go,” said Dr Bohra.    

Medically, liver can tolerate 120 ml of wine and 250 ml of beer at a time. Keeping this limit is called moderate drinking.

However, while partying those who claim to be occasional drinkers consume about 5 to 6 cans of beers at one session which is excessive drinking and causes serious liver damage,” he added.  

The World Health Organisation too has recently issued a warning on rise in consumption of liquor in developing countries and the pattern of binge drinking which is dangerous.

The Global Information System on Alcohol and Health - an annual report published by WHO notes that there are marked increases in use of alcohol in south-east Asia during the last five years.

South Asian countries are marked as high consumption countries though the abstention rates are also high. “But those who do drink in countries with high abstention rates (like India) consume alcohol at high levels,” notes the report. 

Few developing countries have effective policy options to prevent death, disease and injury from alcohol use.

“Many countries have weak alcohol policies and prevention programmes,” notes the report.

Restrictions on alcohol marketing and drunken driving have increased or are in place, but there is no action on preventive measures, no checks for proper implementation of alcohol policies and no drives to raise public awareness on harmful effects of alcohol.
 

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