Cirrhosis
Introduction / Overview
Cirrhosis is a word that is only used in describing the liver. Cirrhosis of the liver is a scarring of liver tissue that occurs over time from the liver healing itself again and again. Cirrhosis can be minor or it can become advanced over the years, such as with alcohol cirrhosis.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Because the liver is one of the organs of the body that can heal itself over and over again, cirrhosis symptoms are usually very advanced before they become noticed. Liver cirrhosis symptoms include losing weight, the presence of fluid in the abdomen, tiredness, nausea or vomiting, swollen legs, not having an appetite, and bruising or bleeding easily. If you have any of these cirrhosis symptoms, see a doctor. He or she will most likely order blood tests, a CT, MRI or ultrasound, and a liver biopsy.
Known Causes
Every time the liver repairs itself, scar tissue is formed. Eventually so much scar tissue is there that the liver can no longer function. You cannot live unless your liver is functioning normally. When your liver cirrhosis becomes advanced, the only option is a liver transplant. The many conditions and diseases which cause cirrhosis of the liver include alcohol addiction, hepatitis B and C, fatty liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis (bile duct destruction), hardening of bile ducts, cystic fibrosis, autoimmune hepatitis, the buildup of too much iron and copper, parasites, and being unable to process milk sugars.
Treatments / Procedures
You may need to seek treatment for the disease or condition causing cirrhosis as well as the cirrhosis of the liver itself. You may have to take medications, such as to control hepatitis, stop fluid buildup, or you might need to enter an alcohol treatment program if alcohol addiction is the cause of your cirrhosis. Sometimes blood pressure medications are used or meds to remove toxins from the blood. You may need a liver transplant to successfully treat cirrhosis. This can be a replacement liver from someone who has died or a portion of a liver from someone who is alive.
Prevention / Vaccination
One of the biggest things you can do to prevent cirrhosis of the liver is to not drink alcohol or to do so in moderation, eat a nutritious diet, lose weight, and avoid contact with toxic chemicals. You can take precautions to decrease your chances of getting hepatitis by not having unprotected sex and not sharing needles. If you are diagnosed with cirrhosis, it is very important to wear a medic alert bracelet or carry a medical ID card identifying your disease, meds, and who to call in case of emergency.
Prognosis / Management
If you have a diagnosis of cirrhosis, you can try to stop or slow further damages with lifestyle changes. Don’t drink alcohol. Eat a healthy diet, restricting fats and sodium, and adding plenty of fruits and vegetables. Avoid over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
Alternative Treatments & Products
There are very few alternative treatments for cirrhosis of the liver. Some people try liver cleansing treatments but there is no evidence these work. You can consult with an herbalist to see which herbs might have a positive effect as many can cause liver damage. Milk thistle is sometimes recommended. Meditative treatments such as yoga or Tai Chi can reduce stress.