Liver Cirrhosis

Despite the liver’s ability to repair itself, in the case of liver cirrhosis, the damage is permanent and can’t be repaired. Liver cirrhosis is fairly common and leads to severe complications and sometimes death.

Liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is a condition in which the healthy liver tissue is replaced with scarring tissue due to certain reasons, and that causes permanent damage to it. Usually, liver cirrhosis occurs due to a chronic inflammation because the liver repairs itself by scarring. However, when the scarred tissue increases, that makes the liver unable to do its job properly, which is metabolizing the nutrition and filtering the blood from the toxins.

Liver cirrhosis is a common condition, and it’s a significant reason for hospitalization in addition to death.

Causes of liver cirrhosis

Cirrhosis of the liver occurs as a result of any disease that induces chronic liver inflammation, and the most common causes are the following:

• Excessive alcohol consumption.
• Viral hepatitis B, C, and D.
• Fatty liver disease.
• Problems in the bile ducts.
• Increased iron in the body.
• Some genetic conditions, such as Wilson’s disease and cystic fibrosis.
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Some infections, like brucellosis and syphilis.
• The risk of liver cirrhosis increases in people with metabolic syndrome and obesity.

Symptoms of liver cirrhosis

The patient might not feel any symptoms in the early stages of liver cirrhosis, and as the disease progresses, the symptoms start appearing, such as:

• Yellow and itchy skin.
• Tiredness
• Nausea.
• Edema in the legs, ankles, and feet.
• Ascites (fluid build-up in the abdomen).
• Loss of appetite and weight.
• The blood vessels on the skin appear as a spider.
• Bleeding and bruising easily.
• Clubbing of the fingertips.
• Redness of the hand palm.
• Dark-colored pee and light-colored stool.
• Menstrual problems in females.
• Testicular shrinkage and breast enlargement in males.
• Confusion and slurred speech.

Complications of liver cirrhosis

• Enlarged spleen.
• High blood pressure in the arteries that supply the liver.
• Weak immunity and increased infections.
• Buildup of toxins in the brain and the whole body.
• Respiratory failure.
• Kidney failure.
• Weak bones,
• Increased risk of liver cancer.
• Malnutrition.

Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis

• Physical examination.
• Blood tests.
• Imaging tests.
• Liver biopsy.

Treatment of liver cirrhosis

The treatment depends on the cause, and you must know that the damage that has resulted from the hepatic cirrhosis is irreversible. In general, the patients must do the following:

• Follow a healthy diet.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Lose weight if needed.
• In case the liver is completely damaged, a liver transplant is done.

Prevention of liver cirrhosis

• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
• Follow a healthy lifestyle.
• Manage hepatitis if you have it.
• Keep a healthy weight.