Cirrhosis Of The Liver

General Information on Cirrhosis Of The Liver

Cirrhosis of the liver is when normal liver tissue is destroyed and scar tissue forms around the normal liver tissue. Cirrhosis is the result of repeated injury to the liver forming the scar tissue. The scar tissue that forms does not function which in turn causes the overall functioning of the liver to be impaired and blood flow from the intestines to the liver can be obstructed. The liver purifies the blood and helps to provide essential nutrients. Due to the liver function being impaired and the blood flow being obstructed, the body is deprived of many nutrients and high blood pressure may occur. Over time as the cirrhosis of the liver worsens and the liver will eventually cease to function. When the liver ceases to function, the affected person will die unless they receive a liver transplant. Unfortunately, it is quite common for there to be no signs or symptoms until the liver damage is severe. There are many different causes of cirrhosis of the liver, some of which include hepatitis B and C, fatty liver disease, cystic fibrosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Wilson’s disease, and hemochromatosis as well as many other conditions. The most common cause of cirrhosis of the liver in the United States is alcohol abuse and is the third most common cause of death among people between the age of forty-five and sixty-five.

Symptoms of Cirrhosis Of The Liver

Some of the symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver may be:

Fatigue
Nausea
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Easy bruising
Bleeding easily
Swelling in the legs
Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
Weakness
General feeling of malaise
Jaundice
Overall itchiness
Muscle atrophy
Redness of the palms
Enlargement of the salivary gland
Small veins in the all over the skin
Liver cancer
Liver failure
Shrinking of the testes and enlargement of the breasts in men
Curling up of the fingers

Treatments For Cirrhosis Of The Liver

The treatment for cirrhosis of the liver is to seek and treat the underlying cause of the cirrhosis. However, there is no cure for cirrhosis. Typically cirrhosis is progressive, but finding the underlying cause of the cirrhosis can stop the scarring of the liver. However, once the scar tissue on liver is formed, it cannot be healed and is permanent. It is imperative that affected people should avoid certain things such as alcohol and drugs. Maintaining doctors’ appointments and closely monitoring the condition closely to treat complications as soon as they arise. In a severe case of cirrhosis of the liver, a liver transplant is imperative.

Personal Experience

Cirrhosis Of The Liver - personal experiences