Cirrhosis Risk Factors

The liver is the largest organ of the body and performs various important functions, including converting food into energy and removing alcohol and other toxins from the body. In addition to removing foreign substances from the body, bile produced in the liver aids digestion. Liver cirrhosis, a degenerative condition, causes the organ to malfunction because of scarring liver tissue. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse states that cirrhosis prevents the body from absorbing fat, controlling infections or processing food, medications and hormones.

Alcohol

• According to the American Liver Foundation, the liver breaks down alcohol, making it easier for the body to digest it. People who've been heavy drinkers for a long time increase their risk of cirrhosis because the liver cannot process large amounts of alcohol. As alcohol causes liver deterioration, the injured liver can no longer process protein, fats and carbohydrates. Cirrhosis cannot be reversed; however, abstaining from alcohol slows liver damage. People who don't stop drinking risk dying from this condition.

Obesity

• The American Gastroenterological Association states that obesity-related liver cirrhosis is the leading cause of death among nondrinkers. Obesity is a cirrhosis risk factor because it leads to a fatty liver and chronic disease. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease occurs because a high BMI causes insulin resistance, which leads to a buildup of fat in the liver cells. The more fat contained in the liver; the greater the damage to the liver. Doctors recommend weight reduction to decrease fatty livers and other conditions that cause liver damage, such as diabetes and coronary artery disease.

Drugs and Toxins

• The liver helps the body metabolize drugs and chemical toxins that pass through the body. This is a less common cirrhosis risk factor present in people who have had negative reactions to certain drugs or who have been exposed to chemical toxins over a long period of time. The liver eventually loses the ability to process these substances due to liver damage. In people who experience negative reactions to certain drugs, changing medications and avoiding certain over-the-counter drugs alleviate some of the liver damage.

Genetic Disorders

• The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse states that genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, Wilson's disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin and glycogen-storage diseases are cirrhosis risk factors. These conditions hamper the liver's ability to process and store enzymes, proteins and other substances needed in the body because of abnormal accumulations of iron and copper. Liver cirrhosis occurs if these conditions are not treated early. However, doctors can prescribe oral medications that help the body eliminate these substances via the urine.

Blocked Bile Ducts

• According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the liver makes bile, the substance that facilitates digestion in the body. When bile is produced, the gallbladder moves it to the bile ducts and to the small intestine. Blocked bile ducts increase the risk of cirrhosis because the obstruction prevents bile from leaving the body via the small intestine. Instead, the bile backs up into the liver, causing inflammation and scarring. Blocked bile ducts result from other medical conditions, such as gallstones, pancreatitis and complications from gallbladder surgery. In some cases, surgeons perform bypass surgery to open blockages.

Age

• As people get older, their risk of developing liver cirrhosis increases, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Cirrhosis occurs partly because of long-term exposure to viruses, medications, health conditions and environmental toxins. Aging, of course, cannot be avoided, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle decreases this risk. Medications, too, treat various conditions that are cirrhosis risk factors.

Hepatitis

• The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse states that all forms of hepatitis are a cirrhosis risk factor and can infect the liver for years before doctors discover the conditions. Hepatitis can lead to chronic liver infections and inflammations that develop in the blood. Autoimmune hepatitis, unlike other forms of hepatitis, is not contracted from human contact. It occurs because the body's immune system attacks liver cells, gradually decreasing liver functions. People suffering from autoimmune conditions like HIV and AIDS are particularly susceptible to liver cirrhosis. These conditions are not curable; however, various treatment options are available to help people manage hepatitis.