What does cirrhosis of the liver mean? What are the main symptoms and causes? It’s important to understand as much as possible about the health issue if sufferers are to receive the right treatment.
What’s Cirrhosis?
Essentially, the term cirrhosis describes scarring in the liver. Rather than a natural problem, it normally occurs as a result of long-term damage. Once the liver is scarred, it doesn’t normally function as expected. While some conditions like hepatitis are considered to be in the early stages of liver damage, cirrhosis is an end-stage liver disease.
What happens if somebody has cirrhosis? Well, the liver can function, but the likelihood of failure is high. Additionally, people often experience complications, and this causes a threat to life for many.
Sadly, no treatment can reverse scarring on the liver. However, scientists and researchers have developed methods of preventing further damage.
Causes of Cirrhosis
In most countries, the leading cause of cirrhosis is alcohol abuse, and this is why the condition is taken very seriously. Often, people don’t get the help that they need quickly enough. They consume too much alcohol over several years and the liver can’t handle the abuse.
Elsewhere, another cause is long-term hepatitis infection. While hepatitis B and C are the most common, it can occur in any form of the condition. Also, some experience what’s known as NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). Sometimes referred to as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, too much excess fat causes inflammation in the liver.
Less common causes are issues with the immune system, bile ducts, side effects of medication, and even inherited conditions.
Cirrhosis Symptoms
One of the biggest issues with cirrhosis is that sufferers don’t tend to experience major symptoms in the early stages. The more the liver is damaged, the more this causes loss of appetite, feeling weak and tired, sickness, red patches on the palms, and loss of muscle mass and weight.
If you don’t spot these early symptoms, they may worsen to vomiting blood, jaundice (yellow skin and white eyes), frequent bruising and bleeding, dark urine, loss of libido, and swollen stomach or legs.
If you think you have the symptoms of cirrhosis, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. After looking at your medical history, they’ll ask you a few questions and begin with the physical examination. Doctors will work towards a diagnosis using a liver biopsy, various scans, and blood tests. If you’re diagnosed with cirrhosis, you’ll be referred to a liver specialist for the next steps.
Cirrhosis Treatment
Though there’s no way to cure cirrhosis or reverse the scarring, patients can treat it and manage the symptoms to ensure that the impact on the enjoyment of life is as little as possible. For example, doctors will continue to treat the problem that caused cirrhosis to stop it from worsening. This includes therapy and help for alcohol abuse and treatment for hepatitis. Alcohol abuse is the leading cause of this disease, and additional treatment may be necessary for a full and healthy recovery. Visit www.iamacomeback.com, to learn how you can find success with your treatment plan.
Depending on your lifestyle and habits, your doctor may request that you stop drinking and lose some weight. If the liver is beyond help, medical professionals may suggest a liver transplant as a final resort. However, they will explore all other options first since a liver transplant carries risks and puts the body under lots of stress.
Cirrhosis Prevention
As they always say, prevention is better than a cure. In this case, prevention is possible by protecting yourself from hepatitis, an infection carried in the blood and bodily fluids. Also, always maintain a healthy weight and limit alcohol consumption as much as possible.
