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Cirrhosis is a condition characterized by the scarring of the liver, which negatively impacts its normal functioning. Thescarred tissue slowly replaces the healthy liver cells. This takes place as time goes by due to alcohol addiction, viral hepatitis, and infections. As the condition worsens, it is bound to lead to liver failure.
In 2007, Cirrhosis accounted for29,165 deathsin the United States, which translates into a mortality rate of 9.7 for every 100,000 persons. To date, it is regarded as the12th leading cause of death in the U.S.
If you catch cirrhosis early, some treatments can fix it. But mostly, it is hard to treat a damaged liver. This article will demystify liver cirrhosis, its symptoms, and the available treatment options for this liver disease.
In the early stages, it is hard to tell if a person has liver cirrhosis as there may be nosymptoms at all. But as the liver damage increases, the signs become increasingly clear.
Cirrhosis worsens as time goes by. The scarred tissue develops and replaces the healthy liver.
In the early stages of cirrhosis, the body adjusts to compensate for the reduction in the functionality of the liver. At this stage, you might not notice any signs or symptoms. This is referred to ascompensated cirrhosis, which can be stopped from becoming liver failure through treatment.
Also Read: How To Prevent Liver Damage?
As the liver becomes more damaged, signs and symptoms will be visible. It leads todecompensated cirrhosis, where there will be symptoms such as hepatic encephalopathy, bleeding of veins, gallstones, jaundice, and ascites.
Liver cirrhosis is a progressive condition classified into the followingfour stages.
Hepatitis is characterized by theinflammation of liver tissues or bile ducts. This is a response of the liver to toxicity or injury to fight an infection or disease and initiate the healing process. Due to the inflammation of the liver tissue, you may begin to feel some discomfort.
The immediate response normally accomplishes the healing; however, the inflammation worsens when the toxicity or injury continues. Chronic inflammation leads to hyperreactive healing and eventually causes fibrosis (scarring of liver tissues).
Most people realize they have a liver illness at thisstage.The scarred tissues slowly add up, stiffening the liver and obstructing function, interfering with access to nutrients and oxygen. However, some scarred tissues can be reversed through the regeneration of liver cells.
Proper treatment will also prevent more damage to the liver.
It is theirreversible destructionof liver cells through scarring. At this point, the liver doesn’t have sufficient healthy cells to function normally. The scarred tissues cannot regenerate again.Cirrhosis does occur as the liver disease continues to advance because there is no replacement of the scarred tissue. So, the liver becomes shriveled and lumpy.
At this stage, you will notice some symptoms such as discomfort, pain, jaundice, itching around the liver, fluid retention, appetite loss, and fatigue. But you can slow down and stop the damage at this juncture.
Liver failureis the last stage, whereby the liver can no longer function to accomplish your body's needs. The liver cannot repair itself, and no treatment will be effective. This stage is also referred to as decompensated cirrhosis. The only remedy for liver failure is a liver transplant.
Symptoms of liver failure are loss of appetite, disorientation, confusion, weight loss, and diarrhea.
Also Read: Strategic Guide on How to Regain Your Appetite!
Failure of the liver can either beacute or chronic. For acute liver failure, it takes place within 48 hours as a result of a drug overdose or toxicity. Chronic liver failure is gradual and follows the four stages of liver disease.
Diagnosis of cirrhosis is based on physical examination, blood tests, imaging tests, liver biopsy, andmedical history.
The physical exam entails:
The doctor will want to know your symptoms and if yourmedical history increases the chances of developing liver cirrhosis. Some of the questions you will be asked include:
Imaging testsshow the shape, texture, and size of the liver and the fat in this organ. These tests can also reveal if the liver is stiff. They include:
Below are some of thetests that the doctor will perform:
A liver biopsy determines the extent of scarring on the liver. It is an effective diagnosis for cirrhosis when other tests are providing unclear results. The doctor takes some small liver tissue using a hollow needle and conducts a test in the lab with a microscope.
This biopsy helps determine the cause of liver cirrhosis and therefore, the most effective treatment plan.
You cannot fully recover from cirrhosis unless you have aliver transplant. It is a progressive condition that gets worse with time. If diagnosed early, liver damage can be reversed. But if not, the condition can only be managed through various treatments depending on what caused it.
Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease that hasno cure. It can only be treated by managing the symptoms and complications and preventing them from causing liver failure. There are no specific treatments that reverse liver damage or cure cirrhosis.
So, doctors only treat it to prevent cirrhosis from worsening and slow down liver damage or failure. Thesetreatments include:
Medicine will be administered depending on the triggers of Cirrhosis. If the cause of the cirrhosis is viral hepatitis, then the doctor will prescribeantiviral medicine.
The doctor can also prescribe medication to help you manage the symptoms of this liver condition. They include:
The doctor will recommend that you avoid medications that worsen the symptoms of cirrhosis. Such medications include sedatives, opiates, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
If your liver cirrhosis is a result of too much consumption of alcohol, then the doctor will advise that you quit drinking.Fornonalcoholic-related cirrhosis, you will need to manage metabolic factors such as blood sugar levels, weight, and cholesterol.
Cirrhosis is a progressive condition that keeps getting worse if no serious intervention is taken at earlier stages to prevent liver damage. When the liver reaches a point where it can no longer function, there will be somecomplicationsthat require treatment. The complications include:
Liver transplantation will only be used if you have liver cancer, liver failure, or you are not responding to the administered treatment options.
Certain lifestyle changes can help manage the complications that arise from cirrhosis. Thesechangesinclude:
According to research,50% to 90% of people suffering from cirrhosis havemalnutrition. Malnutrition results from nausea and vomiting, leading to irregularity in meals. People with liver cirrhosis should avoid fasting or not eating for long hours. They must eat ahealthy and balanced diet to acquire important nutrients such as minerals and vitamins.
That’s why doctors often recommend a professional dietitian to cirrhosis victims to help them develop an appropriate meal plan - that provides sufficient vitamins, minerals, proteins, and dietary supplements.
Alternatively, you can refer to our cholesterol-friendly meal plan here which is designed to reduce risk of fatty liver and cirrhosis.
Eliminateundercooked or rawmeat, fish, and shellfish and unpasteurized milk and its products. Such foods may contain viruses orbacteria that can cause severe infections among people suffering from cirrhosis.
Besides, the doctor will recommend reducing the consumption of foods or drinks rich in sodium.
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Cirrhosis leads to the scarring of liver tissues. These scarred tissues gradually replace the healthy tissues, interfering with the functioning of the liver. Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease that gets worse over time and can lead to liver failure if it is not diagnosed and treated early. The causes of liver cirrhosis include hepatitis, alcohol abuse, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune disorders, damaged or blocked bile ducts, exposure to certain toxic chemicals, parasite infections, heart failure, and certain medicines.
So, you must watch your lifestyle and what you eat to prevent or manage cirrhosis.
Liver cirrhosis has no cure. Proper management of symptoms and various treatment options can be used to prevent liver failure. In case of liver failure, the only perfect remedy will be a liver transplant.