Liver Cirrhosis, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Treatment And Related Diseases

Liver Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease
Where the normal liver tissue is scarred and decreased
This can lead to loss of liver function
The main cause is alcohol consumption

This is followed by Liver infection
Sometimes there is biliary obstruction
Caused by gallstones and cholecystitis
Sometimes it is caused by biliary cholangitis

Scarring of liver tissue can cause loss of function
You may have loss of appetite and biliary congestion
With jaundice, shrunken liver and tea colored urine
There may be nausea and vomiting

Treatment is to avoid all things alcoholic
With infections treat with antibiotics
A fat and alcohol free diet is of great importance
If all fail you may need a liver transplantation.

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Interesting Tips about the Liver Cirrhosis

A Healthy Lifestyle

1. Take a well Balanced Diet

2. Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis:

a. A healthy fat free diet is needed as energy use in cirrhosis is high
b. Close monitoring of the liver function is important.
c. Antibiotics will be prescribed for infections,
d. Antihistamines can help with itching.
e. Laxatives such as lactulose decrease risk of constipation

f. Treating alcoholism
Alcoholic cirrhosis caused by alcoholism is treated by abstaining from alcohol.

g. Treatment for hepatitis-related cirrhosis involves medications to treat the different types of hepatitis, such as:

a. Interferon for viral hepatitis
b. Corticosteroids for autoimmune hepatitis.

h. Cirrhosis caused by Wilson's disease in which copper builds up in organs is treated with chelation therapy (e.g. penicillamine)

3. Keep bones and body strong

Bone marrow produces our blood

Eat foods rich in calcium like yogurt, cheese, milk, and dark green vegetables.

Eat foods rich in Vitamin D, like eggs, fatty fish, cereal, and fortified milk.

Eat food rich in Vitamins B and C such as green vegetables and fruits

Zinc and other minerals are important to the body

4. Get enough rest and Sleep

Avoid stress and tension

5. Exercise and stay active.

It is best to do weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, or lifting weights for 2½ hours a week.

One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week.

Begin slowly especially if a person has not been active.

6. Do not drink more than 2 alcohol drinks a day for a man or 1 alcohol drink a day for a woman.

Alcohol use also increases the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

Alcohol can affect the neurons and brain cells.

7. Stop or do not begin smoking.

It also interferes with blood supply and healing.

Chapter 1

Liver Cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is a common cause of admission to hospitals especially in patients who consumes excessive alcohol.

There are very few patients with liver cirrhosis who comes to see family doctors.

Most patients with liver cirrhosis have more serious complaints such as jaundice, nausea, vomiting and loss of weight are mainly admitted to hospital for treatment.

Few family doctors are willing to treat potentially dangerously ill patients when they can be more safely treated in the hospital.

Liver Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease where the normal liver tissue is replaced by bands of fibrous scar tissue separating nodules of regenerated liver cells resulting in gradual loss of liver function.

The main causes of Liver Cirrhosis are:

1. Chronic alcoholism:

Alcohol tends to block the normal metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates leaving toxic material behind which can injure the liver and ends in liver cirrhosis.

2. Hepatitis C virus infection:

Chronic hepatitis c viral infection causes inflammation of the liver which over the years can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis.

3. Primary biliary and secondary cirrhosis:

Primary biliary cirrhosis cause is unknown.