Causes of Cirrhosis of the Liver

Cirrhosis is a disease that can damage the liver and, in turn, greatly threaten the human body. This article will discuss the identification of cirrhosis, the causes, the effects of cirrhosis and the warnings of the disease. Cirrhosis is a very serious condition and a physician should be consulted if the disease is suspected.

Identification

• According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, cirrhosis is identified by blood tests and enzymatic readings of the blood. It is caused by scar tissue forming in the liver and typically gets worse over time. Cirrhosis eventually causes the liver to break down and stop working properly. Blood also stops flowing through the liver due to the blockage from the scarring. Cirrhosis is also identified by a series of symptoms including fatigue, weight loss and yellowing of the skin.

Causes

• The Mayo Clinic lists causes of cirrhosis to include heavy alcohol use over long periods of time, obesity, hepatitis C, hepatitis B and D, drugs and toxins and other diseases that attack the bile ducts to the liver. The hepatitis virus attacks the liver and causes inflammation and damage, resulting in scarring.
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can also cause cirrhosis. In NAFLD, fat builds up in the liver and eventually causes cirrhosis. This increasingly common liver disease is associated with obesity, diabetes, protein malnutrition, coronary artery disease and use of corticosteroid medications.

Prevention/Treatment

• Cirrhosis can be prevented by following a healthy diet. This will provide the nutrients that are required for proper liver function. Routine check-ups can help monitor your weight and determine if you have any irregularities in your liver enzymes. Control of alcohol consumption can also prevent cirrhosis.
  Treatment of cirrhosis includes prescription of diuretics to assist with the fluid produced from cirrhosis. Other options include weight loss and exercise to lower the body fat percentage and reduce obesity. Some physicians will prescribe antibiotics to assist with cirrhosis as well.

Warning

• Cirrhosis can be a silent attacker without any symptoms in its early stages. However, some warning can be seen in the symptoms of weakness, nausea, vomiting, unexplainable weight loss, fatigue and sluggishness and stomach pain. There may be itching on the skin and an increase in spider-veins in the lower extremities.

Effects

• The effects of cirrhosis include edema (swelling and collection of fluid), ease of bleeding and bruising in the body, high blood pressure (hypertension), enlarged blood vessels in the esophagus and enlargement of the spleen. Additional effects of cirrhosis can include gallstones and the yellowing of the skin known as jaundice.
  Cirrhosis can also increase the body's resistance to insulin and lead to Type 2 diabetes. Liver cancer can develop and an overall lowering of the body's immune system and performance can also result.

Potential

• Cirrhosis has a high potential to be fatal. If it does not take a patient's life, it can be crippling to the body and cause permanent damage.

Misconceptions

• A popular misconception is that cirrhosis is always caused by excessive drinking. That is not always the case, as cirrhosis can be caused by other issues and can appear in individuals who do not drink alcohol at all.