The Liver Doc shares brain scan of 40-year-old on alcohol; highlights link between brain strokes and drinking
Oct 22, 2024, 13:41 IST
Hepatologist Cyriac Abby Philips, better know by his social media handle The Liver Doc, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the story of one of his patients. The 40-year-old had purportedly attended a party over the weekend and suffered bleeding in his brain, landing him in the ICU on life support. While his life hangs in the balance, the doctor used this case as an example to show what alcohol can do to an individual.
The Liver Doc shared two brain scans: one of a 68-year-old who did not consume alcohol and the 40-year-old patient who had consumed alcohol. And the difference was stark. While the brain scan of first person seems healthy, the other patient’s brain had big white splothces. The doctor explained that these patches were actually blood and that the bleeding inside the brain had increased the pressure within his skull, crushing his brain tissue.
This is not the first time The Liver Doc has spoken about the risks of alcohol consumption and advocated for people to party without the beverage, but this post has garnered significant attention from fellow X users.
One medical professional highlighted that stroke after alcohol consumption is on the rise, particularly in young people. The MD in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation said that he had first-hand experience with patients coming in for Neuro-Rehabilitation after waking up to a stroke from partying and having a few drinks.
He also suggested that, contrary to the popular belief that only binge drinking is harmful, “even a single glass of beer can trigger a stroke”.
Another user shared that an acquaintance had a lot to drink and passed away due to brain haemorrhage the same night. The Liver Doc commented under this, saying that strokes can occur even without binge drinking and the absence of underlying liver disease.
The study, led by Eue-Keun Choi of Seoul National University, examined over 1.5 million participants, with 3,153 experiencing a stroke during the study period. Those who drank 105 grams or more of alcohol per week (about one drink per day) were classified as moderate to heavy drinkers.
The findings showed that individuals with two or more years of moderate to heavy drinking were 20% more likely to have a stroke than those who drank lightly or not at all. The risk increased as the duration of drinking rose: two years of moderate drinking increased stroke risk by 19%, three years by 22%, and four years by 23%.
The increased risk was particularly tied to hemorrhagic stroke, caused by bleeding in the brain. Choi emphasised the importance of reducing alcohol consumption in young adults as part of strategies to prevent strokes and reduce their long-term impact on health.
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The Liver Doc shared two brain scans: one of a 68-year-old who did not consume alcohol and the 40-year-old patient who had consumed alcohol. And the difference was stark. While the brain scan of first person seems healthy, the other patient’s brain had big white splothces. The doctor explained that these patches were actually blood and that the bleeding inside the brain had increased the pressure within his skull, crushing his brain tissue.
This is not the first time The Liver Doc has spoken about the risks of alcohol consumption and advocated for people to party without the beverage, but this post has garnered significant attention from fellow X users.
One medical professional highlighted that stroke after alcohol consumption is on the rise, particularly in young people. The MD in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation said that he had first-hand experience with patients coming in for Neuro-Rehabilitation after waking up to a stroke from partying and having a few drinks.
He also suggested that, contrary to the popular belief that only binge drinking is harmful, “even a single glass of beer can trigger a stroke”.
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Another user shared that an acquaintance had a lot to drink and passed away due to brain haemorrhage the same night. The Liver Doc commented under this, saying that strokes can occur even without binge drinking and the absence of underlying liver disease.
Supporting studies
There is also plenty of scientific evidence to support how more and more younger people are falling prey to storkes. A study published in Neurology said that people in their 20s and 30s who drink moderate to heavy quantities of alcohol face higher risks of stroke as young adults.The study, led by Eue-Keun Choi of Seoul National University, examined over 1.5 million participants, with 3,153 experiencing a stroke during the study period. Those who drank 105 grams or more of alcohol per week (about one drink per day) were classified as moderate to heavy drinkers.
The findings showed that individuals with two or more years of moderate to heavy drinking were 20% more likely to have a stroke than those who drank lightly or not at all. The risk increased as the duration of drinking rose: two years of moderate drinking increased stroke risk by 19%, three years by 22%, and four years by 23%.
The increased risk was particularly tied to hemorrhagic stroke, caused by bleeding in the brain. Choi emphasised the importance of reducing alcohol consumption in young adults as part of strategies to prevent strokes and reduce their long-term impact on health.
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