Cirrhosis is considered one of the most dangerous pathologies. The disease has the ability to progress, which extremely negatively affects the condition of patients. There is an opinion that this condition is characteristic of people who are addicted to alcohol. However, in reality, victims of pathology are people with chronic disorders of this organ. The signs of cirrhosis, its complications and consequences are described in the article.
What is characterized by this condition?
Such a pathology is accompanied by the death of tissues and a significant deterioration in liver function, a change in its composition and structure. The disease cannot be cured completely. A similar condition is most often found in people living in developed countries. This fact is associated with the large volume of alcoholic products and fatty foods consumed by the population. A person of any gender can become a victim of pathology. However, the first signs of liver cirrhosis, as a rule, are more pronounced in men than in the weak half of humanity.
The disease develops on its own or arises as a result of a disorder of the immune system when the cells of an organ begin to be perceived by the body of the patient as hostile. In some cases, even specialists cannot establish the reason that provoked this condition. A similar situation is usually characteristic of females.
What causes the appearance of pathology?
A person who has become a victim of this disease may at first not even guess about its presence. The structure of the organ changes gradually, and connective tissue begins to take the place of healthy tissue. However, cells that work normally take on an increased load. Due to this feature, the signs of cirrhosis of the liver, the first symptoms of the pathology are rather difficult to recognize. Although we can say for sure that this violation does not develop in one day. What factors contribute to its development? As reasons, experts call:
- The use of drugs (preparations containing copper, mercury, medicines to combat tumors, tremor palsy, tuberculosis). Pathology occurs when a person takes pills for a long period.
- Severe poisoning, which caused serious violations of the body. This may be intoxication with fake alcohol, poisonous mushrooms.
- Malfunctions in the immune system.
- Disorders of fat metabolism (with a large number of extra pounds, diabetes).
- The inflammatory process that occurs in the bile ducts, their blockage, improper structure.
- The accumulation of large doses of iron in the cells of the body.
- Tumors of the liver.
- Violations of the functions of the heart muscle and blood vessels.
- The presence of parasites in the tissues of the body.
- Cirrhosis, which occurred against a background of unknown causes. This form of the disease is extremely rare - in only 20-30 percent of cases.
The first stage of the development of pathology
In men, this condition manifests itself faster and brighter than in the fairer sex. However, people do not attach much importance to its symptoms. Patients attribute a slight malaise to a deficiency of vitamins, fatigue, emotional overload. If such patients sought medical help at this stage, they would have a better chance of proper diagnosis and timely treatment. The first signs of cirrhosis in men at an early stage include the following manifestations:
- Feeling of weakness.
- Fatigue
- Disorders of memory, attention.
- Loss of appetite.
In rare cases, patients note a mild stitching pain in the right side, under the rib. This feeling becomes stronger after eating foods high in fat, spicy foods and spirits. Due to the fact that the first signs of liver cirrhosis are nonspecific, they are easily confused with other ailments. As a result, the disease develops rather quickly, and the next stage begins.
Symptoms of the second stage
This period is characterized by the death of a large number of tissues that make up the organ, and their replacement with other types of cells. Speaking of signs of cirrhosis, the first symptoms in men in this period, it should be noted that they become more pronounced. First of all, a person has a very high temperature. This phenomenon does not disappear even after taking antipyretic tablets. The patient suffers from skin itching, his face and body become yellowish. After eating, vomiting with bile often occurs, a bitter taste in the mouth. Also, this stage is characterized by staining of urine in a dark shade and the appearance of a light stool.
At this stage of the pathology, an increase in the size of the mammary glands and abdominal cavity in a man can be noticed.
Representatives of the stronger sex complain of sexual dysfunction.
Features of the third stage
This period is characterized by the rapid development of the disease and serious violations of the organ. The first signs of liver cirrhosis, which has passed to this level, include:
- Frequent and loose stools.
- Constant vomiting, sometimes with blood.
- Loss of appetite.
- Severe weight loss.
- Weakness, which often prevents the patient from even getting out of bed.
- Bleeding from the nasopharynx, gums, anus, arising for no apparent reason.
The first signs of cirrhosis in men, photos of external manifestations are presented in sections of the article.
The body of a person who has become a victim of pathology becomes wrinkled, the skin and muscles look flabby. A significant deterioration in the patient's well-being requires the supervision of specialists in a hospital setting.
The final stage
In this period, the patient has signs of damage to the central nervous system. A person can fall into a coma, and this phenomenon is fatal. The hemoglobin level in the blood is significantly reduced. The liver is reduced as a result of irreversible processes that occur in its tissues. The volume of the spleen exceeds the norm. The patient suffers from severe pain. Severe discomfort cannot be completely eliminated even with medication. One of the first signs of cirrhosis of the liver, which has passed into the final phase, is a strong swelling of the abdominal cavity and often repeated bleeding. Unfortunately, at this stage, doctors can no longer help extend the patient's life and relieve him of painful symptoms.
Dangerous effects
As complications of cirrhosis, experts call:
- Edema that occurs in the abdomen, which is associated with excessive accumulation of fluid.
- Impaired blood flow.
- Malfunction of the liver, having an acute nature (failure). In this case, vomiting is observed, the skin acquires a yellow color, there may be a loss of consciousness. External and internal bleeding occurs.
- Inflammation of the peritoneum is a deadly complication.
- Disorder of the kidneys.
- Malignant tumors.
The first signs of cirrhosis in women
At the first stages of the development of the disease, the representatives of the weaker sex almost do not feel unwell. They may not even suspect the presence of any violations. However, in the subsequent stages, more pronounced symptoms are observed. They include:
- Constant fatigue.
- Feeling sleepy during the day.
- A feeling of fullness in the stomach even after small amounts of food.
- An increase in the size of the abdominal cavity.
- Insomnia.
- Violations of memory, attention.
- Discomfort in the right side under the rib.
- Yellowish color of eye proteins, skin.
- Bruising in the face and body.
- The appearance of reddish spots on the palms.
- Light stool and dark urine.
It must be remembered that this disease often develops after transferred liver pathologies of a viral nature. Women who have ever been diagnosed with this infection should be careful about their condition in order to avoid possible consequences. You need to visit a specialist from time to time, undergo an ultrasound examination, laboratory tests. The earlier a dangerous pathology is discovered, the greater the patient's chances of restoring the normal structure and activity of the organ.
General symptoms characteristic of all patients
The first signs of liver cirrhosis in women, as in men, in the early stages are not very noticeable externally. However, as violations develop, appearance changes appear. They are caused by serious disorders of the functions of the organ. The external signs of the disease that are present in both sexes include the following:
- Reddish shade of palms.
- A star-like pattern located on the shoulders.
- An increase in the size of the veins in the abdomen.
- Itching
- Raspberry coloring of the tongue. This organ becomes smooth, very shiny.
- Bruises on the skin, swelling of the lower extremities.
- Yellowing of the mucous membranes, skin, eye proteins (one of the first signs of cirrhosis of the liver is in the photo).
In addition, patients have a periodic causeless increase in temperature, frequent infections, disorders of the central nervous system and muscle tissue.
Diagnosis for determining pathology
Medical events include:
- Laboratory analyzes of biological material.
- Probing of the liver.
- Assessment of the condition of tissues extracted from this organ.
- Ultrasound examination.
Knowing what the first signs of liver cirrhosis are and how serious and dangerous this condition is, a person who has discovered his symptoms should seek medical help as soon as possible.
Therapy
The treatment of these disorders is to combat the causes that cause them, as well as the restoration of the body. In addition, it is necessary to get rid of neoplasms in the tissues (for example, from nodes). It should also normalize the work of veins located next to the liver. Depending on the cause of the disease, therapy involves the use of drugs that reduce immunity, drugs that suppress the activity of microorganisms. If the pathology is associated with a lipid metabolism disorder, a diet with a limited amount of fat is prescribed.
People with alcohol addiction should give up alcohol.
How many patients live with this diagnosis?
The disease often begins to declare itself already at the stage when serious changes occur in the structure and functions of the organ. This feature of the pathology significantly complicates its diagnosis and therapy. Since signs of cirrhosis of the liver, the first symptoms in women occur even later than in the stronger sex, patients often become victims of severe complications. In the case of development of edema of the abdominal cavity of the face with this diagnosis, usually live from three to five years. Coma leads to a guaranteed fatal outcome.
However, at earlier stages, when the cells of the organ are not too damaged, it is possible to normalize the patient's condition to some extent. A radical measure is surgery. It involves a liver transplant, but can only be done if there is no bleeding in the digestive tract.