Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of the band Smash Mouth, passed away at the age of 56.
Although the official cause of death has not been confirmed, Harwell’s manager announced that he died from acute liver failure after being moved to hospice care.
Reports indicate that Harwell had been battling liver failure due to his long-standing struggle with alcohol abuse and addiction.
Liver failure, a rare condition that results in the loss of liver function, claims the lives of approximately 50,000 adults in the US each year. About 5.5 million individuals are estimated to have cirrhosis, a severe liver scarring often caused by alcoholism, which can lead to liver failure.
The liver is a vital organ responsible for numerous functions, including metabolism, immunity, digestion, detoxification, and vitamin storage. It also produces proteins for blood clotting and oxygen transportation, as well as bile for digestion.
Below, DailyMail.com provides an explanation of what liver failure is and how it can result in death.
Steve Harwell, 56, the ex-frontman for the band Smash Mouth, has died. A cause of death hasn’t been revealed, but reports suggest he was suffering from liver failure (Harwell is pictured above)
Understanding Liver Failure
Liver failure occurs when the critical functions of the organ are compromised. It is diagnosed through blood tests that assess the organ’s functionality.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio defines liver failure as a state in which the organ becomes so severely damaged that it ceases to function.
There are two types of liver failure: acute and chronic.
Acute liver failure involves a rapid decline in organ function, typically over a period of days to weeks.
Chronic liver failure, on the other hand, is characterized by a gradual loss of function over months to years due to cumulative damage.
Both forms of liver failure can be caused by alcohol abuse, which leads to organ damage and the replacement of healthy cells with scar tissue, impairing its functionality.
Other possible triggers include drug use, viral infections, and autoimmune diseases.
Chronic liver disease is more prevalent than acute liver failure and was the ninth leading cause of death in the US in 2020, resulting in 56,000 fatalities.
Acute liver disease, however, is rare, with approximately 2,000 new diagnoses each year.
Symptoms of liver failure can include abdominal pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and extreme fatigue. Patients may also experience dark-colored urine and clay-colored stools.
Causes of Liver Failure
Acute liver failure can be triggered by a sudden event that overwhelms an already compromised liver.
In many cases, patients may already have chronic liver disease due to factors such as excessive alcohol consumption.
Chronic alcohol abuse leads to the replacement of healthy liver cells with scar tissue, impairing the organ’s function. This process occurs because alcohol is broken down into acetaldehyde, a toxic substance for the liver. It can also cause the accumulation of fats in the liver, leading to inflammation and further cell damage.
If a patient with chronic liver disease continues to stress the organ, such as through binge drinking, the sudden exacerbation can result in acute-on-chronic liver failure.
Steve Harwell died with his family by his side on Monday, a statement said (Harwell is pictured above)
However, it is more common for acute liver failure to occur in individuals with no previous liver issues.
Doctors at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles mention that sudden consumption of large amounts of drugs, such as the over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen (Tylenol), can overwhelm the liver with toxins, causing it to shut down.
Treatment and Cure for Liver Failure
Medical professionals believe that early-stage liver damage can be treated and sometimes reversed by addressing the underlying cause.
For individuals with liver failure due to alcohol addiction, treatment may involve lifestyle changes, such as alcohol abstinence, rehabilitation, or therapy to address the causes of excessive drinking.
In certain cases, a liver transplant may be offered as a treatment option.
A liver transplant involves the transplantation of a healthy portion of the liver from a living donor to replace the damaged organ. The transplanted section then grows into a fully functioning liver. This procedure has a high success rate, with over 90 percent of patients surviving beyond one year.
Alternatively, a whole liver may be obtained from a deceased donor for transplantation. However, transplant centers often decline performing the operation on individuals who are active substance abusers or alcoholics.
This is because continued alcohol or substance use can rapidly damage the newly transplanted liver, resulting in transplant failure.
Some medical institutions require a period of sobriety before considering a patient for a liver transplant. For example, Johns Hopkins University in Maryland stipulates a minimum of six months of sobriety for alcoholics to be eligible for the
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