What are the Causes of Liver Cirrhosis?

• Fatty liver disease can be caused by lifelong obesity and long-term diabetes.
• Diseases causing loss of appetite are a group of conditions where a person’s appetite is reduced.
• Liver cirrhosis can be caused by a number of things, including alcoholism, hepatitis, and fatty liver disease.
• However, if your liver is damaged because of any of these conditions it becomes scarred, which can lead to cirrhosis.
• The most common cause is anorexia nervosa, but it can also be due to cancer, trauma, neurological disorders, and other illnesses.
• If the liver begins to accumulate fat, it may be irreversible. If a person suspects that he or she has fatty liver, there are several tests that can help confirm the diagnosis.

What are the Symptoms of Cirrhosis?

• There are different stages of cirrhosis, and each stage brings new symptoms and issues.
• Cirrhosis is a disease in which the normal structure of the liver is replaced by scar tissue, leading to loss of liver function.
• The most common symptoms of cirrhosis include jaundice (yellowing of the skin), easy bruising due to decreased production of blood clotting factors by the diseased liver.
• Swelling in limbs, accumulation of excess fluid in tissues and organs such as abdominal swelling or ascites (fluid collection between the abdomen wall and intestines), itching caused by increased absorption of bilirubin by the body, fatigue, and lethargy.

Some Advanced Symptoms Include

• Decreased muscle mass and weakness can also result.
• The advanced symptoms are most likely to occur with Vitamin B12 deficiency.
• In some cases, people may experience dark urine and accumulation of fluid in the abdomen or legs.
• They include gastrointestinal bleeding and coma, as well as impaired sleep, difficulty in concentrating and poor memory.

Diagnosis and Evaluation of Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is an advanced state of liver disease where the liver stops functioning normally due to scarring and hardening of the organ. Liver biopsy is the best way for detecting cirrhosis. A liver biopsy may also be done if there is a difficulty in diagnosis, or when liver function tests are normal and there is suspicion of underlying disorders. Other tests are also performed in patients due to presence of other diseases which might be causing the condition of cirrhosis.

The Stages of Cirrhosis

Treatments of Live Cirrhosis

• This scar tissue blocks blood flow through the organ and can lead to permanently reduced function of the liver.
• The liver is a regenerating organ; when it does not regenerate fully after an injury, scar tissue forms as it heals.
• A dietician helps you to control your weight by aiding you with proper diets, including restriction in intake of protein and salt.
• Diet therapy is essential in the treatment of cirrhosis. Proper eating habits can prevent further damage to the liver and help it recover faster.
• This type of cirrhosis can be treated by removing enough healthy liver tissue to make it possible for the remaining part of damaged liver tissue to work properly again.
• Treatment for cirrhosis depends on which type of cirrhosis it is. Treatment for alcoholic liver disease, for example, may include advice to stop drinking alcohol, the use of medications and vitamins to control bleeding from the stomach, and drug therapy to help the liver work better.

Types of Liver Cirrhosis

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Hepatocellular Carcinoma is cancer that arises in the cells of hepatic parenchyma. The majority of Hepatocellular Carcinoma patients are middle-aged (40–70 years) or older individuals who have previously been diagnosed with hepatitis B, hepatitis C or chronic liver disease (because of alcoholism or another type of liver disease) and Aflatoxin consumption

Secondary Biliary Cirrhosis: Secondary Biliary Cirrhosis is a condition in which the bile ducts of the liver are not able to transfer bile effectively because of secondary causes that lead to blockage, scarring or inflammation. This condition could result from cystic fibrosis, a congenital defect of the bile ducts or gallstones. Other causes include – Idiopathic sclerosing cholangitis, Gallstones, Pericholangitis (inflammatory condition of the pancreatic duct), chronic pancreatitis, Cystic fibrosis, and congenital biliary atresia.

Tips to Stay Healthy with Liver Cirrhosis

To keep your liver as healthy as possible, make a few changes to your lifestyle. Eat lots of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean amount of protein from poultry or fish. Avoid oysters and other raw shellfish because they contain bacteria that can harm your liver. Avoid alcohol too since it can damage the organ even further. Keep up with exercise for your overall health, but also because exercise helps you burn fat—liver cells use fat for energy because they cannot use sugar well anymore.

You are more vulnerable to infections when your immune system is weakened by cirrhosis and its treatments, like prednisone. Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, the flu, and pneumonia and stay healthy. As always, discuss vaccinations with your physician before proceeding.

Your liver is not as efficient at filtering medicine and drug out of your body as it used to be. Before you take any medication, ask your doctor. You may need to limit or avoid over-the-counter drugs that could cause liver damage, like acetaminophen (Tylenol). But do not give up taking other medications yet.

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