Cirrhosis is a very serious condition that can lead to liver damage that can go on to lead to liver failure and possible death. If the condition is diagnosed in its early stages its progression can be halted. There is no cure for cirrhosis at this time.
What is cirrhosis?
The liver carries out several necessary functions, including detoxifying harmful substances in your body, cleaning your blood and making vital nutrients. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver caused by long-term liver damage. The scar tissue prevents the liver working properly. Cirrhosis can eventually lead to liver failure where your liver stops working – which can be fatal. Cirrhosis occurs when healthy cells in liver are damaged and replaced by scar tissue, usually as a result of alcohol abuse or chronic hepatitis.
It usually takes years for the condition to reach this stage and treatment can help slow its progression.
What causes cirrhosis of the liver?
Cirrhosis occurs as the result of long-term injury to the liver. Possible causes include viruses, genetic deficiencies, prolonged obstruction of bile flow, and long periods of exposure to drugs and other toxic substances. In the majority of cases, however, the culprit is excessive consumption of alcohol.
The more alcohol you drink — and the greater the frequency of drinks — the more likely you are to develop cirrhosis. The bodies of men and women process alcohol differently. The amount that you can safely imbibe depends largely on your sex. Women are more susceptible to alcohol-induced liver damage than men.
It is important to note that alcohol tolerance may vary from one person to the next. For some people, one drink per day is enough to leave permanent scars in the liver. If you drink, especially if you do so heavily and often, have a doctor examine you for signs of cirrhosis. This is necessary even if you feel healthy, since the symptoms of cirrhosis often do not appear until it is too late to stop the disease or slow its progress.
What are some symptoms of cirrhosis?
In some individuals with cirrhosis there might be no symptoms at all, especially in the early stages of the disorder. As damage to the liver gets worse symptoms develop and include the following:
• feel very tired and weak
• feel nauseous
• lose your appetite
• lose your sex drive
As the condition gets worse, further symptoms can include:
• yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• vomiting blood
• itchy skin
• dark, tarry-looking stool
• a tendency to bleed or bruise more easily
• swollen legs (oedema) or tummy (ascites) from a build-up of fluid
Making the diagnosis?
If you have symptoms suggestive of cirrhosis see your doctor. If your doctor suspects cirrhosis, he or she will check your medical history and carry out a physical examination to look for signs of long-term liver disease. Arrangements will be made to have various tests and investigations to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Treatment for cirrhosis depends on the cause and extent of your liver damage. The goals of treatment are to slow the progression of scar tissue in the liver and to prevent or treat symptoms and complications of cirrhosis. You may need to be hospitalized if you have severe liver damage. In early cirrhosis, it may be possible to minimize damage to the liver by treating the underlying cause.
Your doctor will work to treat any complications of cirrhosis.
In advanced cases of cirrhosis, when the liver ceases to function, a liver transplant may be the only treatment option.
Lifestyle changes
If you have cirrhosis there are a number of things you can do to help stay healthy and reduce your chances of developing further problems:
• avoid alcohol if your liver problems are alcohol-related
• lose weight if you are overweight or obese
• take regular exercise to reduce muscle wasting
• practise good hygiene to reduce your chances of developing infections
• speak to your doctor about vaccinations you may need
• speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking over-the-counter or prescription medications, as cirrhosis can affect the way some medicines work
Conclusion
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver caused by long-term liver damage. The scar tissue prevents the liver working properly. In Anguilla the most common cause of cirrhosis is excessive alcohol use. All individuals who abuse alcohol should have regular medical check-ups and be investigated for cirrhosis as there might not be any signs or symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Cirrhosis cannot be cured, so treatment aims to manage the symptoms and any complications, and stop the condition getting worse.
Ask Your Dr is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge MB BS DGO MRCOG is an obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor with over thirty-five years in clinical practice. Dr Brett Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 497 5928).
