Cirrhosis of the liver is a late stage of scarring fibrosis that results from chronic alcoholism, hepatitis, and many forms of liver diseases and conditions. Even though the liver tries to repair itself from injury, scar tissue forms, until the liver is so compromised it does not function properly. Advanced cirrhosis is life threatening, but if diagnosed early and the cause treated, the damage can be limited but rarely reversed.
This disease is a type of alcohol-related fatty liver disease or ALD.
Risk factors for cirrhosis include:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Being overweight
- Having viral hepatitis
SYMPTOMS OF CIRRHOSIS
Cirrhosis may not show any symptoms until damage is extensive. Symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Bleeding or bruising
- Swelling of the legs, feet, or ankles
- Weight loss
- Itchy skin
- Jaundice in the eyes and skin
- Fluid accumulation in the abdomen
- Spider like blood vessels on the skin
- Redness in the palms of the hands
- In men, breast enlargement, loss of sex drive, are testicular atrophy
- In women, lack of menstruation not related to menopause
- Slurred speech, drowsiness, and confusion
Cirrhosis can lead to many bad side effects of side from liver damage. These include:
- High blood pressure in veins
- Swelling of the legs and abdomen
- Enlargement of the spleen
- Infections
- Bleeding
- Malnutrition
- Build-up of toxins in the brain
- Jaundice
- Bone disease
- Increased risk of liver cancer
- Multi-organ failure
TREATMENT FOR CIRRHOSIS
If you have cirrhosis, your doctor may only discover it through a check-up or routine blood work. As a follow-up, he may order more extensive lab tests, imaging tests, or a biopsy.
In cases that are not too advanced, your doctor may treat the underlying cause such as alcohol dependency, prescribe medications to control hepatitis or cirrhosis, and encourage weight loss.
SCHEDULE CIRRHOSIS TREATMENT AT OASIS ADVANCED GASTROENTEROLOGY
Detecting and treating cirrhosis can stop liver damage, Contact Oasis Advanced Gastroenterology in Palm Springs to schedule treatment with Dr. Asgeri.
Request an appointment online or call 760-699-7607.
