Alcohol‑Related Liver Damage on the Rise, Say AIIMS Gastroenterology Team

The AIIMS gastroenterology team warned that escalating alcohol consumption across India is fuel‑ing a rapid increase in alcoholic hepatitis and subsequent cirrhosis. They pointed out that chronic heavy drinking damages liver cells, leading to inflammation, scar formation and loss of liver function.

Professor Garg noted that alongside alcohol, the nation is grappling with a surge in fatty liver disease caused by obesity, type‑2 diabetes, sedentary work patterns and the popularity of calorie‑dense, ultra‑processed foods. These factors compound the risk of liver inflammation even in individuals who drink little or no alcohol.

Both alcoholic and non‑alcoholic liver disease share a dangerous trajectory: if the underlying cause is not addressed, simple steatosis can progress to steatohepatitis, then to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and finally to liver cancer. The doctors stressed that early intervention—through medical evaluation, imaging, and lifestyle change—can halt or reverse this progression.

The clinicians urged citizens to view liver health as a priority, reminding them that routine liver function tests and hepatitis screening are simple yet powerful tools to safeguard long‑term wellbeing.