Chennai: Alcohol consumption among women is no longer a taboo, but doctors say this does not contribute much in terms of liver diseases as less than two per cent of the women population – of all age groups - (according to recent statistics) consumes alcohol.
“Alcohol consumption among women is no longer a taboo as it was in the past. However, women do not binge drink, which could otherwise be a major issue,” said Dr Vivekanandan Shanmugam, managing trustee, Chennai Liver Foundation (CLF). “I have personally seen very few cases of women who required liver transplant following alcohol addiction,” he added.
With liver diseases being declared as the ninth leading cause of death in India by WHO, seeing to it that it is eradicated soon has become the need of the hour.
The causes for liver diseases are varied, of which alcohol consumption is just one among them.
“Liver cirrhosis occurs due to Hepatitis B and C infections, alcohol abuse, fatty liver, disease associated with obesity and diabetes and various other factors. If the underlying condition is left untreated, it gradually leads to serious scarring that ultimately results in liver cirrhosis,” said hepatologist Dr Zachariah .
With a motive to check hepatitis B, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) and other government hospitals have started screening pregnant women. “As it is too expensive in private centres, many women come to the hospital for the screening which is provided free of cost,” said Dr Sheela Rani, medical superintendent, RGGGH.
