![All you need to know about cirrhosis of the liver](https://cdn.bestofwell.com/assets/Ly9jZ.jpg?eurl=Ly9jZG4uYmVzdG9md2VsbC5jb20vYmVzdG9md2VsbC5jb20vd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMTkvMDYvQWxsLXlvdS1uZWVkLXRvLWtub3ctYWJvdXQtY2lycmhvc2lzLW9mLXRoZS1saXZlci00MDB4NDAwLmpwZw%3D%3D)
Health
All you need to know about cirrhosis of the liver
Cirrhosis of the liver occurs when the healthy tissues are replaced by scar tissues as a result of alcohol abuse or hepatitis C. Cirrhosis of the liver can be a serious condition if left untreated for a long time and can even cause death. Causes of liver cirrhosis Some of the most common causes of liver cirrhosis are chronic alcoholism, hepatitis C, excess iron residues in the body, infections such as syphilis, cystic fibrosis, genetic digestive disorder, fatty liver disease which is not caused by alcohol, hardening of the bile ducts, autoimmune hepatitis, accumulation of copper in the liver, destruction of bile ducts, medications such as methotrexate or isoniazid, exposure to toxic substances such as pesticides, blocked flow of bile, nonexistence of bile ducts in some children, or galactosemia or alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. Symptoms of liver cirrhosis The symptoms of cirrhosis may not be evident until it has reached an advanced stage. The main reason for these symptoms is the liver’s inability to filter the blood, break down toxins, absorb fats, and produce clotting proteins. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of liver cirrhosis are mentioned below: Tiredness and fatigue Irregular menstruation cycles or menopause in women Bleeding Bruising Swelling in abdomen, legs, feet, and ankles Jaundice Loss of sex drive and breast enlargement in men Hepatic encephalopathy that causes confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, etc.
Read More