Scarring of the liver is called cirrhosis and can be caused by a number of conditions. When the liver is injured, it tries to repair itself. This could be the result of alcohol or an infection. To heal itself, the liver forms scar tissue. As conditions continue to worsen, the liver produces more and more scar tissue. All this scarring makes it difficult for the liver to do its job. The damage cannot be undone, but it can be prevented from the start.
Causes of liver cirrhosis can include viral hepatitis (B, C and D), hemochromatosis (buildup of iron in the body), long-term alcohol abuse, autoimmune hepatitis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Other causes may include certain medications, Alagille (genetic digestive disorder), cystic fibrosis, Wilson’s disease (cooper’s disease accumulates in the liver), or certain infections (syphilis or brucellosis). Higher risk factors include consistently drinking too much alcohol, having a form of viral hepatitis, and/or being obese due to the possibility of fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Unfortunately, symptoms don’t necessarily appear until the damage is severe. Possible side effects may include itchy skin, weight loss, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), spider-like veins appearing on the skin, swelling in the feet and ankles, confusion, absence/absence of menstruation in women and in women. men can be the loss of sex drive.
Depending on the severity, life expectancy with liver cirrhosis is between 2 and 12 years. This is because the liver is the second largest organ in the body and is therefore vital to our health. There are two stages: compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis. With compensated cirrhosis, the person may not show any symptoms for years. They can live 9 to 12 years with this condition. Decompensated cirrhosis is more serious due to its complications and symptoms. Life expectancy can be 2 years. Scoring for liver cirrhosis is done according to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scale. It is based on symptoms and then divided into classes: Class A (5-6 points), Class B (7 to 9 points) and Class C (10 to 15 points). The higher the score, the lower the life expectancy. Medical professionals then use the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) to estimate life expectancy. It is a chart that combines measurements of creatinine (kidney damaging), INR and bilirubin. INR and bilirubin measure living function.
Following a healthy diet with exercise is always a preventive measure. Grapefruit, berries, oily fish, olive oil, nuts and beet juice are all healthy liver foods. Practicing safe sex, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and getting regular physical exams are all important actions to take, not only for your overall health, but also to keep the liver doing what it needs to do for us . We need our liver for detoxification, removing red blood cells, storing bile, regulating blood levels, metabolizing proteins and making bile. Since cirrhosis is irreversible, you need to do what you can control for your health and give your body the environment it needs to do that for you.
Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Liver Cirrhosis 2020 – PMC (nih.gov)
The etiology, diagnosis, and prevention of liver cirrhosis – PMC (nih.gov)
What is cirrhosis? | Rheumatology | JAMA | JAMA NetworkThe Assessment and Treatment of Pain in Cirrhosis – PMC (nih.gov)
The Assessment and Treatment of Pain in Cirrhosis – PMC (nih.gov)
