Liver Cirrhosis - Find Out Its Causes & Symptoms

Introduction

The term cirrhosis refers to liver scarring because of numerous diseases and conditions like chronic alcoholism and hepatitis.

Whenever the liver gets injured, it tries to repair itself, leading to the formation of the scar tissue. With the progression of cirrhosis, a variety of tissues generate creating the task of liver difficult.

Since the liver is a crucial organ of the body because of its functionalities like detoxification and nutrient generation, reduced function of liver poses a heavy threat to the body.

Symptoms of liver cirrhosis

Unfortunately, cirrhosis doesn’t portray any conspicuous symptoms which will be easily known till the scarring has reached a level of threat.

A number of the common signs and symptoms of this disease embody fatigue, nausea, itchy skin, drowsiness, enlarged breasts, testicular atrophy, the fluid within the abdomen, bleeding from the mouth, leg swelling, redness in palms, etc.

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Causes of liver cirrhosis

There may be an array of reasons for the incidence of liver cirrhosis. The key causes embody an accumulation of fat within the liver, chronic alcoholism, and chronic hepatitis.

A number of the other reasons include cystic fibrosis, common bile duct deformation, Wilson’s sickness, pathology, bilharziasis, continuous consumption of medicines like methotrexate sodium, a sickness involving glycogen storage and Aalagille syndrome.

Complications concerned in liver Cirrhosis

Following are the number of complications that can occur with liver cirrhosis

- High blood pressure: 
Cirrhosis ends up in slow blood movement through the passage of the liver leading to an accrued pressure on the vein that's liable for carrying blood from the intestine to the liver. This will increase the blood pressure within the body.

- Swelling of abdomen and legs:
Malignant hypertension may end up in the accumulation of fluid within the leg and therefore the abdomen due to the liver’s inability to producing a crucial protein referred to as the albumin.

- Spleen enlargement: 
Malignant hypertension is liable for changing the shape of the spleen. reduced count of wbc and therefore the platelets indicate towards malignant hypertension and cirrhosis.

- Bleeding:
Malignant hypertension doesn’t let the blood flow in its normal path. It directs the blood to flow through smaller veins. The veins, in turn, swell and burst to cause a vast quantity of bleeding.

Apart from these, a number of other complications involve jaundice, liver cancer, infections, bone diseases, and liver failure.

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How can you treat liver cirrhosis?

For the treatment of liver cirrhosis, firstly its need to get detected. Liver cirrhosis doesn’t get detected simply. It's typically diagnosed with a routine biopsy.

A number of the work tests which will facilitate to spot cirrhosis of the liver embody blood work to check organ function of liver and kidney.

Your doctor may counsel alternative tests like magnetic resonance imaging scan, CT scan or liver diagnostic test.

#Treatment

Treatment for the underlying reason for liver cirrhosis is done to keep the disease under control.

Some treatments your doctor might prescribe include:
- beta-blockers or nitrates (for portal hypertension)
- quitting drinking (if the cirrhosis is caused by alcohol)
- banding procedures (used to control bleeding from esophageal varices)
- intravenous antibiotics (to treat peritonitis that can occur with ascites)
- hemodialysis (to purify the blood of those in kidney failure)
- lactulose and a low protein diet (to treat encephalopathy)

All patients must stop drinking alcohol. Medications, even over-the-counter ones, should not be taken without consulting your doctor. For advanced cases wherever the liver stops functioning, a doctor may counsel a patient to opt for a liver transplant.