Cirrhosis of the Liver: What is It?
According to researchers, cirrhosis of the liver affects approximately 1 in 400 adults in the United States. In fact, researchers believe that number to be a fraction of the real cases as most of them go undiagnosed.
Cirrhosis is a progressive disorder that can lead to fatal complications if left untreated. The condition is more common in middle-aged adults who are likely to have abused alcohol or have type 2 diabetes.
It’s vital you consult a medical provider for treatment and enroll in our prescription assistance program to fill in your prescription.
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What Is Cirrhosis of The Liver?
Cirrhosis of the liver is a medical condition in which a person’s liver is permanently scarred and damaged. It’s a progressive disease that happens over the years and causes scar tissue to slowly replace healthy tissues in the liver cells. The scar tissue also obstructs the flow of blood in the liver.
As a result, the liver doesn’t function optimally anymore. If left untreated, the buildup of scar tissue can eventually stop function completely causing liver failure.
The condition occurs when there’s persistent damage to the liver. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize they have this condition until it’s too late.
Stages of Cirrhosis
There are two stages of cirrhosis: compensated and decompensated cirrhosis.
Compensated Cirrhosis
This is the stage when patients are asymptomatic. The liver can function as it does because it has enough healthy tissues to make up for the scar tissues. This stage can last for many years before progressing to the decompensated stage.
Decompensated Cirrhosis
It’s a complicated stage in which there’s excessive scarring in the liver for it to function properly. You may be able to reverse this stage to compensate if you catch it early enough and get treated.
Symptoms of Cirrhosis
We discussed that most people don’t know they have cirrhosis until it’s too late. That’s because the condition doesn’t show any symptoms in the earlier stages. But when the scar tissue builds up in the liver, it hinders the organ’s function. As a result, the following symptoms may appear:
- Blood capillaries on the skin and on the upper side of the abdomen.
- Blotchy or red palms.
- Enlarged or swollen veins
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Mild pain in the general area of the liver
- Skin itching
- Weakness
As the cirrhosis progresses, you’re more likely to experience symptoms like:
- Abdominal swelling
- Bleeding gums
- Breathlessness
- Changes in personality
- Changes in stool
- Darker urine
- Decreased libido
- Difficulty consuming alcohol.
- Dizziness
- Edema, or fluid buildup in ankles and feet.
- Frequent fever
- Hair loss
- Increased heartbeat
- Jaundice
- Memory problems
- Mobility issues
- Muscle cramps
- Muscle loss in upper arms and body.
- Nosebleeds
- Throwing up blood
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