Cirrhosis

What is cirrhosis?

In cirrhosis, scar tissue replaces healthy tissue in the liver. This scar tissue prevents the liver from working as it should.

The liver is a large organ that is part of the digestive system. It does a lot. For example, it removes toxins from the blood, helps digest food, processes medicines, and helps the blood clot. So if your liver is not working well, it is a serious problem.

In cirrhosis, bile and poisons may build up in the blood. The scarring can lead to severe bleeding in your digestive tract. Cirrhosis can even be deadly. But early treatment can help stop damage to the liver.

If your doctor thinks you have cirrhosis, you may have blood tests and imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan. These tests can help your doctor find out what is causing the liver damage and how severe it is.

To confirm that you have cirrhosis, your doctor may do a liver biopsy. The doctor will take a small sample of liver tissue for testing.

What causes it?

Cirrhosis can have many causes. Some of the main ones include:

  • Long-term use of alcohol.
  • Viral hepatitis.
  • Some inherited diseases, such as hemochromatosis. This causes too much iron to build up in the liver.
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This is the buildup of fat in the liver.

What are the symptoms?

You may not have symptoms when cirrhosis first starts. As it gets worse, symptoms may include:

  • Feeling tired.
  • Small red spots and tiny lines on the skin.
  • Bleeding problems, such as bruising easily or heavy nosebleeds.
  • Weight loss.
  • Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.
  • Swollen legs due to fluid buildup.
  • Vomiting blood.
  • Itching.
  • Confusion, poor concentration, or memory problems.

Work with your doctor

Many people don't know they have cirrhosis until it becomes severe. But once you know you have it, your doctor can help you keep it in check. You'll need regular checkups and lab tests. Your doctor will also want to check for enlarged veins and liver cancer.

How is it treated?

Treatment cannot cure cirrhosis, but you may be able to slow or prevent more liver damage.

  • The most important thing is to stop drinking alcohol right way. It doesn't matter if alcohol is not the cause of the cirrhosis. If you need help stopping, talk to your doctor.
  • You can also help yourself by making changes in what you eat. Your doctor can help you get the right amounts of carbohydrate, fat, and protein. You may also have to limit or stop using salt.
  • It is also important to keep your vaccinations up to date. Be sure you have had the vaccines that prevent COVID-19, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and pneumococcus. Pneumococcus causes pneumonia. Be sure to get a flu shot every year.

Be careful with medicines

Check with your doctor before you take any new medicines. This includes both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, supplements, and herbs. For example, acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can speed up liver damage. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can make bleeding in the digestive tract more likely. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). Make sure all your doctors know that you have cirrhosis.

Do you have any questions or concerns after reading this information? It's a good idea to write them down and take them to your next doctor visit.