The liver is a very important organ of the body. It filters blood coming from the digestive tract and then passes it to the rest of the body. It produces bile that helps the removal of toxic wastes and breaks down fats during digestion. The liver makes proteins important for the blood plasma. The liver ensures the metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
1. What is the cirrhosis of the liver?
2. How serious is this medical condition?
3. whether it is curable?
4. What causes it?
are some of the questions that come to the minds of the people who are worried about their liver health.
Cirrhosis of liver :-
Cirrhosis of the liver occurs when it is exposed to excessive alcohol consumption or a person is a hepatitis patient. It is a late stage of scarring ( fibrosis). The liver has the tendency to repair itself whenever some damage is done to it by alcohol or any other disease.
In the process of repair, scar tissues are formed that make the functions of the liver difficult. The scar tissues block the flow of the blood through portal veins from the digestive organs to the liver and slow down the functions of processing nutrients, hormones, drugs, and natural toxins. In its advanced stage cirrhosis is dangerous to life.
Cirrhosis causes the liver to shrink and harden. The portal vein carries blood to the liver from the digestive system and the hardened liver makes it difficult for the blood to flow into the liver. When blood can't pass into the liver, a pressure is built up in the portal vein. High blood pressure in the portal vein may cause it to burst leading to bleeding.
If serious damage is done to the liver or cirrhosis is in its an advanced stage then the recovery is very difficult but in the case cirrhosis of the liver is diagnosed early the further damage can be checked and in rare cases, it can even be reversed.
Main Causes:-
1. Hepatitis B and C
2. Fatty liver due to obesity.
3. Excessive Alcohol
4. Diabetes
Apart from the above,. there may be many more but minor causes of the cirrhosis of the liver.
Symptoms:-
In the early stage, there may not be any visible signs or symptoms of cirrhosis. Symptoms appear only in an advanced stage when extensive damage is already done.
1. Loss of appetite
2. Nausea
3. Weight loss
4. Fatigue
5. Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
6. Jaundice
7. Itchy skin
8. Absence of period in women
9. Redness in the hand palms
10. Vomiting blood
11. Dark color urine
12. Loss of sex drive
Treatment:-
1. If cirrhosis is caused by excessive consumption of alcohol then the patient must stop it.
2. In the case of hepatitis B and C, the patient may be prescribed drugs to control the liver cell damage
3. The scarring of cells obstructs the flow of blood to the liver that leads to a build-up of pressure in portal veins. Drugs are given to reduce the pressure to prevent the rupturing and bleeding of veins.
4. Urgent medical care is required if the patient is vomiting blood or passing bloody stools.
5. The liver cirrhosis patients are at high risk of liver cancer therefore they must get regular blood tests and imaging scans.
6. When all other treatments fail a patient may go for a liver transplant as the last option.
Avoiding alcohol, eating a healthy diet, regular exercise, and practicing yoga can reduce the possibility of cirrhosis of the liver.
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