What is cirrhosis of the liver?
Cirrhosis refers to the severe scarring of the liver. This is also observed as the poor liver functioning during the early stages of some chronic liver disease. The scarring during cirrhosis of the liver is usually caused due to the long-term exposure to toxic materials including alcohol and some viral infections.
Cirrhosis of the liver usually develops when some factors that contribute to damaging the liver are present in the system for a prolonged period. The liver disease Cirrhosis does not allow the affected to the liver to function properly.
In case of Cirrhosis of the liver, it causes the liver to harden and shrink. This makes it increasingly difficult for the essential nutrient-rich blood to flow properly into the liver from the surrounding portal vein. As a result of this, intense pressure builds up in the portal veins, and this leads to the serious condition referred to as “portal hypertension.” In this condition, the portal veins tend to develop high blood pressure. This could lead to the formation of varicose veins which could eventually burst out and start bleeding. This might turn out to be a fatal condition.
How does Cirrhosis Occur?
One of the most common causes of Cirrhosis in the liver is the long-term viral infection of Hepatitis C along with chronic alcohol abuse of the liver. Obesity or excess body weight also turns out to be a major cause of Cirrhosis.
Some of the other additional causes of Cirrhosis of the liver include:
- Hepatitis B –leading to inflammation of the liver causing damage
- Hepatitis D –this types of hepatitis is known to cause Cirrhosis in combination with hepatitis B
- Inflammation due to some autoimmune disease of the liver
- Damage done to the bile ducts
- Disorders that might affect the ability of the body to handle copper & iron content
- Certain medications including OTC (Over-the-Counter) drugs like antidepressants, antibiotics, and others
Who is Prone to Cirrhosis?
As per the NIH, Cirrhosis can develop in women who have the habit of drinking more than two alcoholic drinks on a daily basis for several years. In the case of men, drinking around 3-4 alcoholic drinks everyday could put them at the risk of developing Cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis that is caused by alcohol is usually due to drinking more alcohol on a daily basis continuously over the period of 10 to 12 years.
What are the Symptoms of Cirrhosis? How is Cirrhosis Diagnosed?
The Cirrhosis symptoms could occur because of the inability of the liver to perform basic functions including purifying the blood, breaking down toxins, producing clotting proteins, and helping with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins & fats. Some of the common symptoms of Cirrhosis of the liver include:
- Nose bleeding
- Jaundice
- Decreased appetite
- Sudden weight loss
- Weakness
- Smaller spider-shaped arteries just beneath the skin layer
- Anorexia
- Itchy skin
Some of the advanced symptoms include:
- Impotence
- Swelling of the legs referred to as Edema
- Abdominal swelling known as ascites
- Difficulty in thinking clearly
- Gynecomastia –males start developing breast tissues
Diagnosis
The diagnosis for Cirrhosis starts with detailed medical history and physical examination. The doctor might look for some possible physical signs including paleness of the skin, reddened palms, yellow eyes, small testicles, enlarged liver or spleen, and others. Some of the tests as suggested by doctors could include:
- Complete blood count for revealing anemia
- Coagulation blood tests
- Albumin
- Liver functioning tests
- Alpha-fetoprotein tests
Some of the additional tests depending on the severity of the symptoms of Cirrhosis as suggested by your doctor could be:
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- Ultrasound scan of the liver
- Upper endoscopy
- Liver biopsy
What are the Complications of Cirrhosis?
When the blood is unable to pass through the liver, it could lead to certain complications including:
- Kidney failure
- Bruising
- Internal bleeding
- Liver cancer
- Esophageal varices
- Gallstones
- Enlarged liver or spleen
What is the Treatment for Cirrhosis?
The overall treatment for Cirrhosis would depend on its cause and the severity of the symptoms. Some of the possible treatments as suggested by the doctors might include:
- Certain medications including nitrates & beta blockers
- Banding procedures for controlling bleeding occurring in esophageal varices
- Hemodialysis for purifying blood in the kidney failure
- Intravenous antibiotics
Liver transplantation serves to be the last resort when other treatments fail.
Home Remedies for Cirrhosis
- Quit or limit drinking as much as possible
- Include a low protein diet as prescribed by the doctor
- Include papaya seeds in your diet
Did You Know?
- Cirrhosis is a leading risk factor to liver cancer
- Cirrhosis is not caused by trauma to the liver
- Certain additional health complications can occur alongside Cirrhosis
Related links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1FeV79piTo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpfk9KFIwXk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfNq2x5IrrI
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