2023-04-20 12:53:00
The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body. It is responsible for the filtering of various toxins from the body’s systems and at the same time produces substances that the body needs to function effectively and vitally. Because it is so critical to the normal functioning of the body, any damage to the liver is serious and potentially very dangerous.
Cirrhosis of the liver, also called ‘cirrhosis’ is a common disease in which the liver is damaged and a scar is formed instead of healthy and functioning tissue. As the disease progresses, the liver is more and more damaged, and accordingly its function decreases, since the blood flow to and from it decreases.
What are the factors that promote cirrhosis?
The causes of cirrhosis are divided into two main categories, one being habits and lifestyles, and the other being infection with dangerous viruses. Harmful lifestyles can be excessive consumption of alcohol over time, poor nutrition that may also lead to fatty liver, taking certain medications regularly and exposure to various toxins for a long time. All of these – alcohol, drugs, various toxins – are substances that the liver’s job is to break down and neutralize. Therefore, an excess of them over time can harm its proper functioning.
Infection with the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses is the most common cause of cirrhosis in Israel. These are viral infections that are transmitted in the bloodstream in the body and can reach the liver and cause inflammation. The inflammation creates a scar that, as mentioned, replaces healthy liver tissue and reduces its ability to function.
It should be noted that there are also metabolic, genetic and immunological diseases such as diabetes, Wilson’s disease, hemochromatosis, cancer and more that can damage the liver and promote the disease.
What symptoms can indicate cirrhosis of the liver?
One of the prominent and well-known symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver is jaundice – a change in the patient’s skin tone to yellowish, and with it also the eyelids. This is a very noticeable condition that indicates a problem with liver function. In addition to jaundice, ascites can also be identified as a symptom of liver cirrhosis. This is a condition in which the patient’s abdomen is very swollen due to the accumulation of fluid in the cavity.
In addition to these, the poor functioning of the liver creates a situation of accumulation of toxins in the body, therefore discomfort expressed in itching, weakness, nausea, poor appetite and edema is also a symptom that may indicate damage to the liver. Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract is also a symptom that is important to address and even mandatory.
How is a patient with cirrhosis diagnosed?
The disease can be diagnosed first by the symptoms we discussed above, followed by a series of tests that will confirm the condition of the liver. These tests include ultrasound scans, blood tests and, if necessary, gastrological tests, CT scans, MRI mapping and biopsies. The doctor asks to use these tests to detect an increase in the concentration of liver enzymes, clotting factors and albumin, which also indicates liver function.
Ways of treating cirrhosis of the liver
What makes it possible for doctors to treat cirrhosis is the regenerative capacity of the liver cells and the fact that the liver has a significant size that can be used as normal ‘reserve’ tissues. This is also the reason that many patients are able to continue leading a relatively normal lifestyle alongside the disease. In most cases, the treatment will be focused on preventing the development of the disease and its possible complications.
If the causes of cirrhosis in the patient are factors related to his lifestyle, he receives the necessary guidance and support to change them. If it is a viral infection, the treatment will be medicinal and focused on stopping the spread of the virus. Alongside these, patients will be encouraged to make changes in diet and body weight to avoid recurrence of fatty liver or ascites. For example, one of the recommendations for cirrhosis patients is a diet low in sodium that will reduce the accumulation of fluids in the abdominal cavity.
In cases where the treatment is in an advanced status of the disease and its complications, the patient may need a liver transplant because other forms of treatment will no longer be useful.
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