Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a condition when scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue. As a result, your liver stops working normally.

It is a long-term or chronic liver disease in which your liver is damaged with time.

You must know that liver is one of the largest internal organs of your body which lies under your ribs.

The liver is responsible for doing a lot of important things in your body including:

• Make new proteins
• Eliminates waste from the body like toxins and medications
• Stores sugar that is further used by your body to generate energy
• Makes bile to assist in the digestion of the food

When you suffer from cirrhosis, scar tissue often slows down the blood flow through your liver.

As a result, your liver is not able to perform its functions the way it should.

In serious cases, the liver is damaged so badly that it even stops working. This is also known as liver failure.

Every time your liver is injured, whether by disease or unnecessary alcohol consumption, it tries to repair itself.

However, if liver cirrhosis is diagnosed early then the cause can be treated and further damage can be stopped.

Several liver diseases and conditions harm your healthy liver cells, leading to cell death and inflammation.

This is further followed by cell repair and ultimately tissue scarring which is the result of the repair process.

When the blood flow through the liver is blocked, the ability of the liver to process nutrients, hormones & natural toxins is decreased. 

This further decreases the production of proteins and other substances which is made by your liver.

Cirrhosis ultimately keeps your liver from working appropriately.

What causes cirrhosis (chronic liver disease)?

Some of the major causes of cirrhosis include:

• Alcohol abuse
• Hepatitis and other viruses
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (this usually happens due to conditions like obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure)

Some of the other common causes of cirrhosis include:

• Use of certain medications
• Autoimmune disorders when the body’s infection-fighting system start attacking healthy tissue
• Parasite infections
• Blocked or damaged tubes that carry bile from your liver to intestine
• Exposure to some toxic chemicals
• Frequent episodes of heart failure along with blood build-up in your liver

Certain diseases pass from parent to child and cause cirrhosis. These usually include:

• Cystic fibrosis
• Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency
• Glycogen storage diseases
• High blood galactose levels
• Porphyria (a disorder in which some chemicals build up in your blood)
• A hereditary build-up of a lot of copper or iron in your body

Who is at more risk of suffering from cirrhosis?

You are more likely to suffer from cirrhosis of the liver if you:

• Have viral hepatitis
• Abuse alcohol for several years
• Are obese
• Have diabetes
• Have unprotected sexual activity
• Inject drugs by using shared needles
• Suffer from a history of liver disease

What are the symptoms of cirrhosis (chronic liver disease)?

Depending upon the seriousness of cirrhosis, your symptoms can differ. Sometimes, mild cirrhosis might not cause any symptoms at all.

Some of the major symptoms of cirrhosis include:

• Itching
• Gallstones
• Fluid build-up in your belly
• Vomiting blood, often from bleeding in the blood vessels in your food pipe
• Muscle loss
• Yellowing of your skin and eyes
• Kidney failure
• Easy bruising
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Confusion because toxins build up in your blood
• Spider-like veins in your skin
• Low energy and weakness (fatigue)

Keep one thing in your mind, the symptoms of cirrhosis might also look like other health issues sometimes.

However, if you experience any of these symptoms then make sure to contact the doctor immediately. 

Is cirrhosis cancer?

It is important to understand that cirrhosis of the liver is not cancer.

However, several people suffering from liver cancer can have cirrhosis.

In case, you suffer from cirrhosis then you are at an increased risk of suffering from liver cancer.

If you suffer from hepatitis B or hepatitis C then you are more likely to suffer from liver cancer.

Such kinds of diseases often lead to the problem of cirrhosis.

You must know that any cause of a liver disease can lead to the problem of cirrhosis, increasing the risk of liver cancer.

Is cirrhosis a hereditary disease?

Keep one thing in your mind, cirrhosis is not an inherited disease.

But some of the diseases that cause liver damage that can lead to cirrhosis are inherited diseases.

How to prevent cirrhosis?

Certain steps can help you to decrease the risk of cirrhosis and take care of the liver:

If you suffer from liver disease then stop the consumption of alcohol. You can find Alcohol addiction medications at our online pharmacy, consult with a physician about which medicine is better for you.

You need to choose a plant-based diet that is filled with full of fruits and vegetables.

Decrease the consumption of fatty and fried foods because they will affect your liver.

Therefore, cirrhosis can be treated easily, if diagnosed at the right time.