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Cirrhosis Symptoms, Treatment, Stages and Types
Overview
Table of Contents
Liver cirrhosis is the state where the liver gets scarred and the cells of the liver start losing themselves.
Liver cirrhosis is one of the most common diseases in today’s time and more than 10 lakh people with liver cirrhosis come every year.
Cirrhosis is the result of many habits like alcohol and substance abuse or suffering from other kinds of diseases in the past like hepatitis B or C.
As liver function is one of the most important organs of the human body liver cirrhosis is really like threatening and the disease must not be left untreated. Diagnosis and treatment in early stages are really helpful in managing and reducing Diagnosis and treatment in early stages is really helpful in managing and reducing the damaging effect of liver cirrhosis.
The symptoms of liver cirrhosis are not visible in the early stages. In most cases, the symptoms can be seen only after the liver has been damaged.
Some of the common symptoms seen in almost every patient with liver cirrhosis include the following-
• Fatigue
• Obesity
• Rectal bleeding
• Bruising
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Appetite loss
• Unexpected and unwanted weight loss
• Restlessness and dizziness
• Redness in hands and toes
• Irregular periods
• Gynecomastia
• Loss of interest in sexual life
• Inflamed hands and feet
• Itchiness in body and frustrated skin
• Sudden mood swings not related to periods
• Hepatic encephalopathy
Medical attention is suggested to take every 3 months for patients who have any kind of lung or liver-related disorder. However, if you found swelling in any body part which does not improve within a few days or if you find symptoms among the above you need to go for a consult with your doctor.
1. Compensated cirrhosis –
compensated cirrhosis is the stage where you can compensate for the damaged part of your liver through the replacement of cells.
decompensated cirrhosis is the state where you cannot compensate for the damaged part of your liver through the healthy self as because your liver cells are completely ruined.
The causes for occurrence of liver cirrhosis in your body includes the following –
• Alagille syndrome
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Alcoholism and other substance abuse
• Suffering from alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• Bile duct disorders
• Viral hepatitis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Consumption of certain kinds of medications including Isoniazid and methotrexate
The Risk factors following of them-
• Obesity
• Inactive lifestyle
• Alcoholism and smoking
• Chronic hepatitis A or B
• Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis ( SBP )
• Edema
• Ascites
• Portal hypertension
• Permanent malnutrition
• Esophageal varices or gastric varices
• Jaundice
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• Bone disease
• Liver cancer
Liver cirrhosis is not completely preventable but yes, the disease can be reduced and managed to a great extent. Take the following precautional step to reduce the risk of the cirrhosis in yourself-
• Maintain a Healthy lifestyle
• Stay fit. Neither overweight nor underweight
• Have your diet with complete fresh green leafy vegetables and fruits
• Quit smoking and alcoholism
• Avoid sharing needles
• Always have protected sex
• Go for hepatitis vaccination
Fact – unfortunately liver cirrhosis is a life long disease and that symptoms can only be reduced and managed but cannot be completely cured.
Fact – this is a big myth . As explained above also , the symptoms in most of the cases are not visible until the liver is permanently damaged therefore proper diagnosis can only help in this case.
Fact – no liver transplant cannot completely help you get rid of the disease. You can still go for various complication and you will need many medications to recover it which would again lead to other side effects.
Liver cirrhosis is not completely preventable but yes, the disease can be reduced and managed to a great extent. Take the following precautional step to reduce the risk of the cirrhosis in yourself-
• Blood sample
• Urine analysis
• Stool sample ( if needed )
• Liver biopsy
• International normalised ratio test
• Magnetic resonance elastography ( MRE test )
• Treatment plan program for alcoholism and other substance abuse
• Blood sugar level management
• Medications to treat liver cells and reduce the symptoms
• Antibiotics and vaccinations for diseases like influenza and hepatitis
• Liver transplant surgery
• Provide a diet chart for low–sodium consumption
• Over-the-counter ( OTC ) medications which include aspirin and ibuprofen.
Answer – alcoholism and smoking or taking drugs worsens the disease symptoms and can even lead to other many complications.
Answer – there is no sure cure for liver cirrhosis . Moreover , there are advanced treatment options available that helps in managing the disorder.
Fact – yes , liver cirrhosis can be really fatal as because liver cirrhosis is the case of permanent damage of the liver which is ultimate cause of death. But the life threatening symptoms are not be seen in the early stages and the disease becomes fatal after years of the infection.
Answer – one can easily live 10 to 20 years with the disease. Moreover , the complications and symptoms versions with age and time.
