May you liver long OD-ed on alcohol on New Years? Heavy drinking is not just about hangovers but fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis too

The heavy drinking synonymous with Christmas and New Year's Eve can put a serious strain on the liver, say experts. Excessive alcohol consumption is known to cause either short or longterm liver damage.      Alcohol is a essentially a poison, and if drunk in excess over the long-term, it can lead to either a fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis.      Over a number of years, most heavy drinkers tend to develop a fatty liver. In this condition, fat globules form within liver cells.      If alcohol consumption continues, hepatitis or inflammation of the liver develops. And with continued drinking, cirrhosis or scarring of tissue follows, making liver damage irreversible.  SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR  The liver becomes enlarged, causing discomfort in the right upper abdomen. After about 10 years, symptoms of nausea, vomiting, pain under the right ribs, weight loss, fever, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) and a swollen abdomen appear.      The alarming bit is that cirrhosis may often cause no symptoms for a number of years or only mild ones, including poor appetite and weight loss, nausea and muscle wasting.      In some cases, severe cirrhosis may lead to varicose veins in the gullet that bleed into the digestive tract. Liver failure ensues, with coma and death.  HOW TO TREAT IT  Stop drinking completely and forever, is what doctors will tell you. If not, the disease may be fatal. If drinking stops, you may get a few extra years of life.      Fatty liver often disappears after three to six months of abstinence from alcohol.      About half of the people with cirrhosis die from liver failure within five years.      More than one in 10 with cirrhosis go on to develop liver cancer.      People who do not have any other serious health problems and have stopped drinking may be candidates for a liver transplant.      Swelling of the abdomen can be treated with diuretic drugs. Nausea can be relieved by antiemetic drugs.      — Daily Mirror

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I’ve learnt my lesson Top 10 city docs on the healthy promise they are trying to keep, and how you can too

Exercise to get into that pair of jeans DR FIRUZA PARIKH, fertility specialist Imust remind myself of the aphorism, physician, heal thyself. Exercise, yoga and a sensible diet are my priorities for the year. I need to work on getting into that pair of jeans I have secretly locked away in my cupboard. 
    As for my patients, I'm going to stress on concentrating on the simple things that help increase reproductive potential —adequate exercise, balanced diet, taking vitamin supplements, and sleeping well. Plastics, that we use every day, have a toxic effect on our reproductive organs. It's important that I discuss the outcome with couples during consultation.

Bring back fun into my life 
DR SAMIR DALWAI, 
developmental paediatrician 
    I've been falling in love with my work, and now realise, it may not be such a good thing, actually! As we progress in our careers, we tend to focus on output and targets at the expense of having fun. This only ends up reducing efficiency, and ruining your health. I used to be a regular at salsa classes, but haven't had the time to do it in a while. My plan is to make sure this year is about bringing back fun into my life.

Strive to achieve a gadget-detox 
DR PARUL TANK, psychiatrist 
    In Latin, 'mens sana in corpore sano' means a healthy mind in a healthy body. This year, I wish to work towards achieving it. It's tough for a doctor to find time to exercise, but it's important if I must stay fit for patients who seek emotional solace from me. I am trying to reduce the importance of technology in my life. We are reaching out to phones, the Internet and social media to achieve targets and success and dodge boredom. In the bargain, our listening and communicating skills are getting blunted. It's an advice I am going to share with my patients, too.

Start eating fish regularly 
KAJAL S KHATURIA, 
Nutritionist Ineed to stop thinking about nutrition 24/7, and train my focus on socialising. Regular walks in the park and playing badminton, meeting close friends and family for dinner is what I am keen to incorporate into my schedule. But since I cannot be separated from my profession (laughs), I plan to spread awareness about the benefits of including fish in your diet. It's known to protect against heart disease, stroke, is great for your skin and brain functions. At the moment, I get my supply of Omega 3 fatty acids through supplements, but I've made up my mind about including fish in my meals.

Play with my daughter 
DR RAVI KOTHARI, 
Ayurveda practitioner 
    As an Ayurveda expert, I'm aware of the benefits of the Dincharya, the practice of promoting a healthy mind and body. The way to achieve it is through Pranayama and Yogasanas, Oil Pulling, Rasayana, Nasya, Anjan, Karna puran etc. I've decided I must practise a few of these myself. I'm also going to stay away from stress, and count the little blessings, spend time doing what makes me happy — playing with my daughter. This will be my way be at peace with the world.

Spend time meditating 
DR AASHISH ARBAT, Knee and hip replacement surgeon 
    Iam a regular gymmer, and my expertise makes it evident when I see people exercise around me that that they are doing it incorrectly or over-exercising. This is especially harmful after 35, and leads to shoulder and knee injuries. My resolution is to stick to a healthy diet, not skip meals, do floor exercises instead of skipping and running on the treadmill, and replace it with cycling and badminton in a bid to protect my joints. And yes, I am making time to take care of my mind too with Pranayam and meditation.

Cut stress with a Bali holiday 
DR APRATIM GOEL, Non-surgical cosmetic specialist 
    I'm committed to lessening the obsession with being 'thin and fair'. Crash dieting does more harm than good, and ODing on fairness creams is a recipe in disaster because so many of them contain hidden ingredients like steroids and mercury. I will continue to bust myths associated with skin health, like — moisturing oily skin leads to acne. Removing your make-up at the end of the day and moisturising your skin, no matter what type, are two of the most important bits of advice I give my patients. I will make time for the well-deserved holiday in Bali.

Give more listening time to patients 
DR NILESH GOYAL, 
Dermatologist 
    I've planned to listen attentively to my patients. A doctor's daily life is cluttered with incessant calls and complaints. Amid the chaos, we stand the danger of losing track of our primary duty — listen to the patient and attend to his primary worry. It's one the main causes for dissatisfaction among patients; not being given a patient hearing and answering their queries. This harms the relationship between patient and doctor, and can even affect success of treatment. I'm keen to change this.

Discuss cutting-edge technology 
DR KAUSHAL MALHAN, 
knee and hip surgeon 
    This year, I've resolved to propagate new technology available in the field of joint replacement surgery. Disability from arthritis has risen manifold, especially among younger patients. It's the expectation of this group that must be addressed while taking into account that a long term solution is the need of the hour. I must spread the word about tissue preserving customised techniques of joint replacement that allow faster recovery and better results.

Eat healthy so that my kids learn too 
DR HARSHADA RAJADHYAKSHA, 
Orthopaedic physiotherapist 
    Like charity, fitness begins at home. I'm trying to strike the delicate balance between food, sleep and exercise. I make time for a mix of cycling, swimming and gymming, which I will continue in the hope that my kids learn healthy habits, too. Restricting oily food, sweets helps keep cardiac disease, diabetes, and hypertension at bay

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