1. Liver Cirrhosis: Causes and Symptoms You Must
Know
The liver is one of the most important organs in our body as it helps us in
breaking down nutrients and chemicals that our blood carries. It also
secretes a chemical called bile juice that helps in separating waste
products from the liver. Therefore, to live a healthy life, having a healthy
liver is important. However, the liver also goes through damage due to
several factors that affect its functioning. Liver cirrhosis is a serious liver
disease in which scar tissue replaces all the healthy cells. Numerous
factors lead to liver cirrhosis such as alcohol addiction, obesity, diabetes,
fatty liver, and hepatitis B and C virus infections. Liver cirrhosis helps to
control liver damage, stop complications, and cure symptoms. It is a
serious condition that takes years to develop, and it is necessary to
diagnose it at an early stage and kickstart the treatment.
Let us study liver cirrhosis in a bit more detail and analyze its causes and
symptoms.
2. Causes of Liver Cirrhosis
According to research, hepatitis C virus infection and alcohol
consumption are the major contributing factors to liver cirrhosis.
However, other conditions such as diabetes and fatty level lead to liver
damage. The following points expound on the liver cirrhosis causes in
detail-
Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis:
Liver cirrhosis due to alcohol consumption takes years to develop. It is
important to realize that the amount of alcohol that can cause the onset
of liver cirrhosis depends on person to person. For example, women are
more prone to this condition if they consume high amounts of alcohol.
Teenagers specifically must avoid alcohol consumption because they are
most susceptible to liver cirrhosis. It is also important to note that
certain genetic conditions also lead to alcohol-related liver injury.
Hepatitis:
Hepatitis is also a common cause of liver cirrhosis and leads to
inflammation of the liver. Chronic hepatitis caused by infections such as
Hepatitis B or C makes a person more vulnerable to liver cirrhosis.
Moreover, consuming alcohol during hepatitis infection increases the
risk of liver cirrhosis.
3. Fatty Liver:
Liver damage does not necessarily come from alcohol consumption as
conditions such as NAFLD can also cause severe liver damage. NAFLD is
an acronym for the condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
that generally occurs due to underlying conditions such as triglycerides,
chronic obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood cholesterol, etc. The
condition leads to high inflammation of the liver that eventually causes
the formation of scar tissue, impeding the functioning of the liver.
Inherited Conditions:
Some genetic factors also lead to damage of the liver and scarring of
tissue that ultimately causes the onset of liver cirrhosis. These inherited
conditions include galactosemia, Wilson disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin
deficiency, hemochromatosis, etc.
Symptoms of Liver Cirrhosis
Liver cirrhosis takes several years to develop but taking note of a few
symptoms helps in identifying the condition at an earlier stage. Ranging
from chronic digestive issues, appetite loss, to internal bleeding, these
symptoms disrupt the whole lifestyle of a patient. It is also important to
note that the symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the liver
cirrhosis condition.
4. Hair Loss
Itchy Skin
Weight loss
Cognitive Problems
Issues in sleep patterns
Easily bruised skin
Fluid retention in the abdomen and legs
Digestive problems such as constipation
Palmer arrhythmia
Hormone disruptions
Conclusion
Liver cirrhosis is a major disease in which scar tissues develop on the
liver, making it incapable to perform its functions properly. It is a serious
liver damage that takes years to develop, and the causes are several.
However, timely diagnosis and lifestyle changes help in managing the
condition well. The blog gives a brief introduction to liver cirrhosis and
explains its underlying causes and major symptoms.