Stick to recommended alcohol limits
Heavy alcohol consumption is one of the most common causes of cirrhosis of the liver. Therefore, the best way to prevent alcohol-related cirrhosis developing is to stick to the recommended limits. These are:
- men: up to 21 units a week (three to four units a day),
- women: up to 14 units a week (two to three units a day).
If you are a heavy drinker, you need to cut down because the more alcohol that you consume above the recommended amounts, the greater the risk that you will develop cirrhosis.
If you have cirrhosis, you should stop drinking alcohol immediately because it speeds up the rate at which the condition progresses, regardless of the cause.
Protect yourself from hepatitis
Cirrhosis can be caused by infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis B and C can be caught through unprotected sex (without using a condom) or by sharing needles to inject drugs.
You should therefore use a condom when having sex to avoid the risk of hepatitis, and avoid injecting drugs. For more information, go to Health A-Z: hepatitis
People who are at risk of getting hepatitis B, such as police officers and social care workers, can be protected by being vaccinated against the condition. In fact, anyone can be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C.
