What is liver cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is a condition where the liver becomes permanently hard/scarred and starts to lose its ability to work properly. The liver is a vital organ that helps clean the blood, make important proteins, and digest food. When it is damaged over a long time- months to years (due to diseases or harmful habits) it develops scar tissue, like a wound healing the wrong way.
What causes cirrhosis?
It may be a combination of many factors:
- Long-term alcohol abuse
- Chronic viral infections like hepatitis B or C
- Fatty liver disease, especially common in people who are overweight or diabetic
- Genetic conditions
What are the symptoms?
Early on, cirrhosis has no symptoms. Hence, regular health checkups are important in people with risk factors for liver disease.
As liver function worsens, people may notice:
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Swelling in the legs or abdomen
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Confusion or forgetfulness
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Vomiting of blood or black / tarry stools
Why is it serious?
The liver performs many essential functions. When it starts to fail:
- Toxins build up in the body
- Thinning of blood
- The body can't digest food or fight infections well
- Pressure builds up in veins around the liver, which can cause dangerous bleeding
Can it be treated?
Cirrhosis is permanent, but doctors can treat the underlying cause and help manage symptoms. This may include:
- Stopping alcohol completely
- Treating hepatitis
- Losing weight or managing diabetes
- Medications to reduce swelling or confusion
- In severe cases, liver transplant may be needed (liver transplant is the only curative option for liver cirrhosis)
Prevention:
- Avoid excessive alcohol
- Get vaccinated for hepatitis B
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Treat conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol
- Regular check-ups if you have liver disease
