Usually alcoholic cirrhosis develops after more than a decade of heavy drinking, but that is not always the case. Due to genetic factors some heavy drinkers can develop cirrhosis much sooner. Some people have livers that are much more sensitive to alcohol. Likewise, the amount of alcohol that can injure the liver varies greatly from person to person. In women, as few as two to three drinks per day have been linked with cirrhosis and in men, as few as three to four drinks per day.
Alcohol attacks the liver by blocking the normal metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
A damaged liver cannot remove toxins from the blood, causing them to accumulate in the blood and eventually the brain. There, toxins can dull mental functioning and can cause personality changes, coma, and even death. He knew the only way to save his life was to quit drinking, but he just couldn't stop, no matter how he tried. Loss of liver function affects the body in many ways. Here is a list of common problems, or complications, caused by cirrhosis.