Introducing the Revolutionary Traffic Light System for Early Detection of Liver Damage

Doctors have created a new traffic light color-coded blood test that can reveal hidden liver damage caused by drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol. They warn that consistently consuming three to four bottles of wine a week puts you at significant risk.

This test can help general practitioners (GPs) talk to patients who don’t realize they’re drinking too much. Typically, signs of liver damage from alcohol only show up at later stages when the damage might be irreversible. Although the liver is quite tough and can repair itself to some extent, constant heavy drinking can cause lasting harm. When this irreversible damage happens, the liver becomes so scarred that stopping drinking won’t save it. In such cases, people can die from liver complications within a year.

The traffic light test gives an early warning. Green means your liver is probably okay, amber suggests there might be at least a 50% chance of damage, and red indicates a high likelihood of serious, possibly irreversible damage. This test combines results from a current experiment and two additional tests measuring liver scarring.

Researchers tested the system on 1,000 patients at the University of Southampton’s liver clinic. The test accurately predicted liver disease outcomes. Half of those tested showed a red result, and around a quarter of this group died within the next five years. On the other hand, none of the patients with green results died or developed liver issues.

Initial results show that patients are open to using this kind of test, and the results have influenced their drinking habits. About a third of those in the green category reduced their alcohol intake. Among those in the amber or red categories, two-thirds cut down on their drinking. Dr. Nick Sheron, who developed the test, noted that people were keen to see how their alcohol consumption affected their health.

According to the Department of Health, men should not regularly drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day, while women should limit themselves to two to three units. Additionally, the Royal College of Physicians advises no more than 21 units a week for men and 14 for women. They also recommend having two to three alcohol-free days a week to give your liver a break.