Harvard-trained doctor reveals one major warning sign of liver damage in regular or social drinkers and shares how to prevent it

It started as a routine hospital call, but what followed became a powerful reminder about how silent and dangerous alcohol-related liver disease can be. A man in his 40s, who appeared perfectly healthy, was rushed in after vomiting blood. What looked like an isolated incident turned out to be the result of years of quiet liver damage caused by “casual” drinking.

Doctor explains how to save your liver early

The case was recently shared by Dr Saurabh Sethi, an AIIMS-trained gastroenterologist with experience at Harvard and Stanford, who often uses social media to raise awareness about preventable digestive and liver diseases. He described how the man’s internal bleeding was caused by esophageal varices - swollen veins in the food pipe that develop due to severe liver scarring. These veins can rupture suddenly, leading to massive, life-threatening bleeding if not treated immediately.


Dr Sethi and his team performed an emergency procedure, placing rubber bands around the damaged veins to stop the bleeding. The patient survived, but the situation revealed a deeper issue: many people who drink socially may already have liver damage without realising it.

According to Dr Sethi, he has been seeing more middle-aged men facing similar situations. These are people who may not drink every day or appear unhealthy, but have been consuming alcohol regularly over several years. Over time, alcohol quietly inflames and scars the liver, gradually progressing to cirrhosis, a stage where healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, blocking normal blood flow.

What makes alcohol-related liver disease especially dangerous is its silent progression. It often develops without obvious symptoms. In many cases, the first warning sign is vomiting blood, which means the damage has already become severe. Fatigue, loss of appetite, or mild swelling in the abdomen might appear earlier but are easily overlooked.

Dr Sethi emphasised that the condition is entirely preventable if detected early. Simple diagnostic tools like a liver function test and an ultrasound can identify early signs of damage before it becomes irreversible. “Alcohol-related liver disease builds up quietly, but early detection can change everything,” he said in his post, urging viewers to take charge of their liver health.

He encouraged regular drinkers - even those who consume alcohol only on weekends or at social gatherings - to check in on their liver health. “Don’t wait for symptoms,” he advised. “A few routine tests can make all the difference.”


The doctor’s message has resonated widely online, with many people calling it a much-needed reality check for those who believe moderate drinking is safe. His post underlines a simple truth: the liver doesn’t give loud warnings until it’s too late.

According to Healthline, the liver helps clean toxins from the blood, digest food, and make bile. But drinking too much alcohol for a long time can damage it, causing scar tissue to form instead of healthy cells, a condition called cirrhosis.

Dr Saurabh Sethi’s reminder stands out for its practicality. Liver disease caused by alcohol is one of the few that can be stopped early with awareness, timely testing, and lifestyle change. For anyone who enjoys a drink now and then, his message is clear: prevention is far easier than cure.