Cirrhosis of the Liver: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Cirrhosis of the liver poses a significant health challenge worldwide. With no known cure, it requires comprehensive management to slow liver damage, alleviate symptoms and prevent potential complications….CONTINUE READING

Cirrhosis is characterized by irreversible scarring of the liver. This article will explore its causes, symptoms and treatments and will look at the day-to-day realities of living with this disease.

Cirrhosis is a late-stage consequence of liver disease, characterized by the development of extensive scar tissue in the liver, according to the Cleveland Clinic

. In the initial stages, you may not have noticeable symptoms. As the condition progresses, however, symptoms may become apparent.

Alcoholic cirrhosis is an advanced stage of alcoholic liver disease that leads to liver stiffness, swelling and impaired function, according to Stanford Medicine.

In contrast, nonalcoholic cirrhosis is more commonly called Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). It occurs when fat accumulates in the liver, potentially leading to liver dysfunction and injury over time, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

It’s important to note that excessive alcohol consumption can also cause fat to build up in the liver, but that condition is distinct from fatty liver disease. Health care providers point to two types of fatty liver disease: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), where fat is present without liver damage, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is characterized by liver fat, inflammation and cell damage.

An estimated 10 to 20 percent of Americans have NAFLD, while about two to five percent have NASH, Hopkins Medicine says. Treatment for cirrhosis depends on the underlying cause and the extent of your liver damage. In cases of liver failure, liver transplantation may be an option.

“Cirrhosis is usually a result of liver damage from conditions such as hepatitis B or C, or chronic alcohol use,” Dr. Sumera Ilyas

, a gastroenterologist, internist and transplant hepatologist at the Mayo Clinic, says in a video discussing cirrhosis. She goes on to add that the “damage from cirrhosis typically cannot be undone.”

Various diseases and conditions can also contribute to the development of cirrhosis, according to the Mayo Clinic ….CONTINUE READING