*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature M: MRSA.

Causes

Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) is caused by drinking too much alcohol. The more you drink above the recommended limits, the higher your risk of developing ARLD.

There are 2 ways alcohol misuse (drinking too much) can cause ARLD.

These are:

drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short amount of time (binge drinking) - can cause fatty liver disease and, less commonly, alcoholic hepatitis
drinking more than the recommended limits of alcohol over many years - can cause hepatitis and cirrhosis, the more serious types of ARLD

Evidence suggests people who regularly drink more than the recommended maximum amounts are most at risk of developing ARLD.

For low-risk drinking:

men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week
spread your drinking over 3 days or more if you drink as much as 14 units a week
if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week

Read about how to calculate alcohol units

Additional factors

As well as drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, other factors can increase your chances of developing ARLD.

These include:

being overweight or obese
being female (women appear to be more vulnerable than men to the harmful effects of alcohol)
having a pre-existing liver condition, such as hepatitis C
genetics (alcohol dependence and problems processing alcohol often run in families)

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature M: MRSA. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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