Cirrhosis of the liver

Cirrhosis of the liver what is and how to treat

Cirrhosis of the liver: Cirrhosis of the liver is one of many liver diseases which is characterized by the abnormal structure of the liver. It is usually accompanied by the replacement of liver tissues by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules that leads to loss of proper liver function. Cirrhosis of the liver is generally caused by years of alcohol abuse, hepatitis B and C and fatty tissues. Some cases of this liver disease are even idiopathic, or of indeterminable or unknown cause. One of the most common complications of cirrhosis of the liver is Ascites, or the retention of fluid in the abdominal cavities, which is connected to a person's lifestyle, as indicated above, or infections as well as a poor-term outcome of the condition. It can also contribute to hepatic encephalopathy, or mental confusion, coma and sores on the esophagus. Cirrhosis is generally irreversible and in advanced cases the only solution for a possible cure is a liver transplant. The word "Cirrhosis" is Greek in origin, meaning "tawny", or an orange-yellow color in nature. The condition has existed for centuries, but it wasn't until 1819 when a French doctor, Rene' Laennec described the disease as it is known today. What are the symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver? in its earliest stages, a person may give no hint of having the disease. But as it progresses they become more obvious. The obvious symptoms of cirrhosis is: -Jaundice, or the yellowing of the skin, literally making the person's skin appear yellowish in complexion -Weakness -Loss of Appetite -Constant itching or scratching the skin -Being easily bruised, due to the decreased blood-clotting factors in the diseased liver How is Cirrhosis treated? There are various ways, as the following will show: - One way is by maintaining a healthy diet and taking one multivitamin daily. Other ways are totally abstaining from drugs and alcohol. cirrhosis patients should particularly avoid NSAID (non-steroidal antiflammatory drugs), such as Ibuprofen. -Cut down on the intake of salt. Doctors generally advise cirrhosis patients to restrict the use of salt, as this can cause salt and water to increase swelling in their ankles and legs, making them appear larger. They recommend patients to take 2 grams of salt a day and 1.2 ounces of fluid. For some cirrhosis patients salt and water is not enough, and sometimes diuretics may have to be used. -Go get your liver checked for cirrhosis regularly for detection of liver cancer. -You can also get a possible liver transplant as a possible cure of the condition. What is available for the future of cirrhosis of the liver? Medical science has made some advancements concerning the disease in recent years. For example, they are producing newer and better treatments for viral liver infections to prevent the development of cirrhosis. There are constant treatments of the condition that is being renewed and revised as well as research being directed at identifying new proteins in the blood that can detect liver cancer in its early stages to determine which patients are likely to develop liver cancer..