With chronic liver disease, people may lose their liver function slowly, often over a period of many years — even decades, Kushner explains. Chronic liver failure, also called decompensated liver disease, can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite, the Cleveland Clinic says. Steve Harwell, former lead singer for rock band Smash Mouth, died at age 56 on Sept. 4, 2023, due to acute liver failure. According to the band’s manager, the cause of death was acute liver failure. Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of Smash Mouth has died at the age of 56. The cause of death was acute liver failure, according to the band’s manager.
Harwell dealt with multiple health conditions in the years prior to his death, including addiction, according to Hayes. “Liver failure does not necessarily have to be a death sentence,” Kushner says. But, she continues, “it’s not that anyone who wants a liver transplant just walks in and gets one.” There’s a waitlist for transplants and “very stringent criteria to determine who can qualify for a liver transplant,” Kushner says. Harwell retired from performing with the band two years ago and passed away after a short stay in hospice care. His condition worsened and he was shifted to hospice care before his death on Monday.
In this situation, a patient “may have underlying long-standing chronic liver disease or cirrhosis,” Kushner explains, and then an infection or other issue “on top of that leads to liver failure.” Steve Harwell died from acute liver failure, his band’s manager told NBC News. “Steve Harwell was a true American Original. A larger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle,” Hayes’ statement said in part. Nearly 75% of patients with end-stage liver disease in safety-net hospitals were not referred for liver transplant evaluation, mostly due to active alcohol use or insurance issues, according to data published in JAMA Network Open. With chronic liver failure, patients usually have long-standing liver disease, Kushner says, which can be caused by long-term alcohol use, hepatitis viruses, autoimmune conditions and genetic conditions. The heart disease led to “serious medical setbacks” for Harwell, including heart failure and acute Wernicke encephalopathy, the latter of which affected his speech and memory.
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- “A larger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle.”
- “Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being a Rockstar performing in front of sold-out arenas and have been so fortunate to live out that dream,” the singer said in a statement.
- According to the American Liver Foundation, 4.5 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with liver disease which, if left untreated, can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
- Find rehab for yourself or a loved one by speaking with a treatment provider.
Harwell’s long-term alcohol misuse was something he hinted at when he retired from Smash Mouth in 2022. In October 2021, Harwell, after appearing disoriented onstage at a Smash Mouth concert in upstate New York, had taken a brief hiatus from the band before retiring for good a few days later. Acute liver failure can be caused by a sudden trigger that overloads an already damaged liver.
It is most often the result of long-term liver disease, which has many contributing factors, including genetics, infections, immunodeficiencies, and long-term alcohol abuse. Hayes confirmed with TODAY.com that Harwell had struggled with addiction over the years, which led to health issues such as cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease, that affected his speech and memory. For people with liver failure due to alcohol addiction, treatment may include lifestyle changes, such as abstaining from alcohol, rehab or therapy to address the factors driving someone to drink. Both conditions can be caused by alcohol abuse, which damages the organ and leads it to replace healthy cells with scar tissue — impairing its function. Among patients with alcoholic-related liver disease in early stages, 15% progressed to decompensation and 22% died within 6 years, according to data presented at EASL Congress. Disparities in receipt of liver transplantation and mortality persisted over time among hospitalized Black and Hispanic patients with decompensated cirrhosis compared with their white counterparts, according to data in JAMA Network Open.
TMZ reported that the singer had for years dealt with alcohol abuse and addiction issues. The band’s manager, Robert Hayes, confirmed the news in a statement to Rolling Stone, saying the founding vocalist was “surrounded by family and friends” when he “passed peacefully and comfortably” at his home in Boise, Idaho. Liver failure is when the liver shuts down and is unable to carry out important bodily functions.
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Smash Mouth was founded in 1994 in San Jose, California, and was made up of Harwell, the lead singer, drummer Kevin Coleman, guitarist Greg Camp, and Paul De Lisle on the bass. Unfortunately, Harwell’s passing is a solemn reminder that anyone can be affected by alcohol use disorder, no matter their level of success. It’s important to understand that alcohol addiction is a disease that requires alcohol addiction treatment, and getting help is the first step towards recovery. Though never going public with his addiction struggle, an inside source revealed that Harwell struggled with many unspecified addictions over the years, as reported to Billboard.
The singer died of acute liver failure on Monday, Sept. 4 at his home in Boise, Idaho, the band’s manager Robert Hayes confirms to PEOPLE. “He was surrounded by family and friends and passed peacefully and comfortably,” Hayes said in a statement. Although an official cause of death has not been confirmed, Harwell’s manager said in a statement Monday the singer had died from acute liver failure after being moved to hospice care.
Disease
- During an appearance with the band at The Big Sip in New York, a video of Harwell slurring his speech, cursing at the audience, and making a gesture that resembled a Nazi salute, became viral.
- Chronic liver failure, also called decompensated liver disease, can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite, the Cleveland Clinic says.
- For people with liver failure due to alcohol addiction, treatment may include lifestyle changes, such as abstaining from alcohol, rehab or therapy to address the factors driving someone to drink.
- Steve Harwell, former lead vocalist of the rock band Smash Mouth, is in hospice care, USA TODAY has learned.
- In October 2021, Harwell, after appearing disoriented onstage at a Smash Mouth concert in upstate New York, had taken a brief hiatus from the band before retiring for good a few days later.
Alcohol abuse can lead to many health problems, including digestive issues, heart how did steve harwell get liver failure disease, weakening of the immune system, and liver diseases. Since 90% of all alcohol is processed through the liver, the organ is at the highest risk for cell degeneration and damage caused by the substance. This can result in fatty liver disease and cirrhosis of the liver, ultimately leading to liver failure if left untreated. After nearly a decade of health problems, Steve Harwell, former lead singer and frontman for the band Smash Mouth, died Sept. 4 at age 56, which the band’s manager, Robert Hayes, said was caused by acute liver failure.
“Rifaximin prevents recurrent hepatic encephalopathy; however, it is not known whether it may have beneficial effects on other complications of cirrhosis,” Elisa Pose, MD, PhD, of the Liver Unit at the Clinical Hospital of Barcelona, said. “The effects of the combination of statins and rifaximin on the natural history of decompensated cirrhosis have not been investigated.” Read more. Naltrexone was effective in achieving abstinence, reducing lapses and improving craving scores at 3 months in patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis, according to data presented at EASL Congress. During Harwell’s tenure with Smash Mouth, the band sold over ten million albums worldwide, had two #1 hit singles and a Grammy nomination. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, where she was selected to help launch the newspaper’s wellness vertical. Sometimes a liver biopsy may be required to help determine the best course of treatment.
Smash Mouth’s Steve Harwell In Hospice Due To Liver Failure, Report
Chronic liver disease is more common than acute and was the ninth leading cause of death in the US in 2020, behind 56,000 fatalities. Chronic liver failure on the other hand, is when the organ loses its ability to function over months to years due to damage compounded over time. Below, DailyMail.com explains what liver failure is and how the condition can lead to death. He will be remembered for his musical success in Smash Mouth, his philanthropic endavours, and his devotion to his fans and bandmates. “Good night Heevo Veev. Rest in peace knowing you aimed for the stars, and magically hit your target,” his manager said in tribute. As for Steve, he is known to have struggled with addiction over the course of his life.
What to know about acute liver failure, Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth’s cause of death
Although the condition is “extremely rare,” Lucero says, it’s also always an emergency. It occurs when, all of a sudden, the liver just stops working in somebody who has no known liver condition, Lucero says. Liver failure is a condition in which the liver can no longer keep functioning at normal levels. Best known for the 1999 hit “All Star,” Harwell’s “iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices from his generation. He loved the fans and loved to perform,” the statement said. Smash Mouth burst onto the scene in the late 1990s with the release of the band’s major-label debut, “Fush Yu Mang,” which went on to sell two million copies.
“And if it’s given early enough, it can help avoid the need for a liver transplant.” Patients may also receive a special form of continual dialysis, which can help decrease the amount of ammonia in their body, she adds. However, by definition, acute liver failure only occurs in “someone who has no underlying liver disease and has never had any liver problem,” Kushner says. Instead, it arises most commonly due to an overdose of acetaminophen, Lucero explains. “He was surrounded by family and friends and passed peacefully and comfortably,” the band’s manager, Robert Hayes, said in a statement to NBC News. “Steve Harwell was a true American Original. A larger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle,” the statement continues.
Steve Harwell, the retired musician best known as the longtime frontman of Smash Mouth, is at home in hospice after serious health complications. The outlet notes that Harwell had been hospitalized receiving treatment but is now back home receiving hospice care surrounded by friends and family for the past three days. Harwell had been retired from Smash Mouth for two years as the band continues to tour with Goode. The band also told Newsweek via email, “Steve’s legacy will live on through the music. Steve’s iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices from his generation. He loved the fans and loved to perform.”
The Mayo Clinic says you can also reduce your risk of acute liver failure through prevention, including following instructions on medications, reducing alcohol consumption and getting vaccinated for hepatitis A and B. Treatment for acute liver failure differs based on the underlying cause, the Johns Hopkins website notes, but may include options such as measures to counteract overdoses or medicine to treat underlying conditions. For example, if someone took too much acetaminophen, doctors have medications available to help counter the toxicity. In some cases, treatments can prevent further complications or help reverse acute liver failure by giving the liver time to heal, the Mayo Clinic says.
Similarly, Wernicke encephalopathy, or wet brain, is a neurological condition caused by a lack of B-vitamins. It is commonly diagnosed in people suffering from malnourishment due to alcohol misuse, with symptoms presenting as confusion, uncontrolled eye movement, and involuntary muscle movement. The only original member of the band still performing with the group is bassist Paul De Lisle. Former Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell is receiving end-of-life care amid liver failure. Regularly drinking a lot of alcohol eventually causes the liver to start replacing healthy cells with scar tissue — impairing the organ’s ability to function. Acute liver disease, however, is rare, with about 2,000 people diagnosed with the disease every year.