Avoid kwaso or risk getting alcoholic fatty liver disease and serious health damage.

Avoid kwaso or risk getting alcoholic fatty liver disease and serious health damage.

Posted by : Frank Short Posted on : 12-Apr-2021

Drinking Kwaso in the Solomon Islands still persists despite it being illegal and many interventions by the RSIPF to stop the making and selling of the home made brew problem. 

Kwaso is affecting many young people in the Solomon Islands and, according to community workers; the consumption of it is getting worse.

Kwaso, is cheap for those who are unemployed and is usually sold through the Black markets in various locations in Honiara.

What makes Kwaso appealing is its affordability and high alcohol content with an alcohol percentage much higher than spirits.

Not knowing the alcohol content makes it dangerous...it is not a proper drink, it is quite dangerous," said a young man recently.

Just how dangerous I want to share with readers in my letter today, and I will quote some medical guidance I researched.

Quote.

Cirrhosis is the medical term to describe scarring, which prevents the liver's cells from accessing the blood it needs to do its job. In addition, this can lead to portal hypertension and internal bleeding. There are two main signs of liver failure, according to Intermountain Healthcare. Firstly, there may be bruising on the skin accompanied by bleeding and confusion.

Secondly, jaundice might occur which is when there's a yellow tinge to the whites of the eyes and skin.

Liver failure isn't the only risk a person faces if their liver is scarred.

Cirrhosis of the liver most commonly results in portal hypertension, which is when blood has trouble moving through the liver and finds alternative routes.

As the blood searches for new routes to travel back up to the heart muscle, it begins to use smaller blood vessels.

These blood vessels aren't designed to carry the weight of the blood, so they become stretched and weak.

If the blood pressure rises enough, these small blood vessels - known as varices - can split, causing internal bleeding.

Should this type of bleeding be gradual, the first warning signs might be that of anaemia.

Medical News lists the most common symptoms of anaemia, which are:

  • Fatigue
  • Pale skin
  • A fast or irregular heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Headaches
  • Light-headedness

However, there's a chance that the internal bleeding can be rapid and drench the insides of your body.

When this happens, you might vomit blood and pass faeces that are tar-like and very dark.

Are you alreadyat risk of alcoholic fatty liver disease?

There are two ways alcohol misuse can cause alcoholic fatty liver disease. These are:

  1. Binge drinking
  2. Drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week over many years

There are other factors that can increase your risk of the condition, such as:

  • Being overweight
  • Being female
  • Having hepatitis C

The early warning signs of fatty liver disease include:

  • Abdominal (tummy) pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling sick
  • Diarrhoea
  • Feeling generally unwell

More advanced signs of a damaged liver include:

  • Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
  • Swollen abdomen
  • Fever and shivering attacks
  • Itchy skin
  • Hair loss
  • Clubbed fingers
  • Blotchy red palms
  • Significant weight loss
  • Weakness and muscle wasting

Doctors warn: "If you misuse alcohol, you may have liver damage, even though you have none of the symptoms above."

End of quote.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

 

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