Have you ever felt tired for no reason? Have you ever felt that pale skin suddenly? Well, these can be the signs of liver cirrhosis, which is a serious condition that can harm the vital organ in our body – the liver. Undoubtedly, the liver is the superhero of our body, and it silently filters the toxins away from the blood, which helps us in a good digestive system and even produces essential proteins. However, this superhero in our body is constantly under attack.
Over time, our liver keeps getting affected by various habits such as overconsumption of alcohol and more factors which lead to the development of scar tissue and replace the healthy tissues in our body. This hardening process is known as cirrhosis and due to this, the liver stops responding properly. You might be able to see a few symptoms such as loss of appetite, fatigue and even confusion. If you’re experiencing something like this, this guide would prove to be ultimately helpful.
Causes of Liver Cirrhosis
The disease “liver cirrhosis” can form due to a variety of culprits.
While some causes are completely known some more causes will surprise you completely. Let’s see what they are:
1. Too Much Alcohol
Overconsumption of alcohol is a leading cause of cirrhosis. Due to continuous consumption, alcohol acts as a toxin for our body which in turn damages our liver and even promotes the development of scar tissue in our body.
2. Viral Hepatitis
If your body catches chronic infections with hepatitis B or C, it may trigger ongoing inflammation in the liver, eventually leading to cirrhosis.
3. Genetic Diseases
There are certain diseases which we inherit from our genetics. These diseases might be hemochromatosis (iron overload) and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (protein buildup), which can completely damage the liver.
4. Toxins and Medications
If you’re in contact with certain medications for the long term, they may react after a certain point and harm the liver badly. Thus increasing the chances of cirrhosis.
Symptoms of Liver Cirrhosis
Although liver cirrhosis depends silently on the body if you witness certain symptoms, do get them diagnosed at an early stage to avoid complications later.
Here’s what you need to watch out for:
1. Fatigue
If you’re constantly feeling tired and lethargic throughout the day, then you must get it checked as it may be a symptom of liver cirrhosis. It happens because your body can’t produce enough proteins that are needed by the body for energy production.
2. Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss
As the liver struggles to function properly, you may find difficulties with your digestive tract. This may lead to nausea, loss of appetite and even unintended weight loss.
3. Jaundice
In this disease, a person witnesses a yellowish tint on the skin and the whites of the eyes. It happens when the damaged liver cannot extract the bilirubin from the body, which is a waste product, from your bloodstream.
4. Itchy Skin
Another symptom includes itchy skin which persists all over the body and can be a sign that you are suffering from liver cirrhosis.
5. Confusion and Forgetfulness
In some rare cases, the toxins can build up in the brain which might lead to confusion and forgetfulness. This may even lead to the rise of some memory problems.
Diagnosis of Liver Cirrhosis
Although liver cirrhosis may stay silent for a few days, if you see some persistent symptoms, you may get it diagnosed. Here’s how your doctor would put the pieces together:
1. Blood Tests
Blood tests are the first line of defense that measures live functioning through liver function tests (LFTs). If there’s an abnormal level of enzymes and proteins in the body, then it will include that the liver is damaged.
2. Imaging Tests
There would be imaging tests using imaging techniques like CT scan, ultrasound, and MRI which indicate a clear picture of the liver. However, the images may be scary as they may include swelling, scarring and changes in the shape and size of the liver.
Prevention of Liver Cirrhosis
While liver cirrhosis is a serious condition, but it can be prevented with through proactive measures:
1. Vaccine Against Hepatitis
The very first step would be to get a vaccine against hepatitis A and B. This would help you in gaining long-term protection from such viruses.
2. Moderate Alcohol Consumption
Excessive or overconsumption of alcohol can be a major culprit which damages the functioning of the liver and causes liver cirrhosis. Limit the consumption to reduce the risk.
3. Eat a Liver Friendly Diet
Add nutrients like proteins, vegetables, fruits and whole grains to your diet. Avoid sugary drinks, processed foods, and unhealthy fats which may add stress to the liver.
Conclusion
Do you know that the liver is our body’s unsung hero? It silently performs over 500 functions in our body and hence this not only filters toxins from your body but even aids in digestion. But this vital organ in our body can be under attack silently by various factors which may cause a serious condition: cirrhosis.
The good news: this disease is preventable. All you need to do in life is to make informed decisions about your lifestyle and prevent any symptoms which you may be witnessing from progressing to cirrhosis.
