One of the most dangerous diseases of our time is cirrhosis of the liver, the signs of which absolutely all adults should know. This is necessary in order to consult a doctor in time if the first symptoms of this disease occur.
There is a misconception that cirrhosis affects people who abuse alcohol. This is not true. In chronic alcoholics, cirrhosis really often develops by the age of 40. However, this is one of the reasons that provokes the destruction of the organ.
Portal cirrhosis of the liver (it is also called alcoholic), develops against the background of excessive alcohol consumption. Its particular danger is that for a long time no symptoms can be suspected of a fatal diagnosis. However, after a while, signs begin to appear that signal that the disease has gone very far. With portal cirrhosis, there is:
- An increase in the size of the liver and (or) spleen
- Fatigue, progressive weakness
- Bloating, flatulence
- Fast satiety, loss of appetite
- The disappearance of libido and potency in men, aminorrhea in women
- Nasal, throat, internal bleeding
Cirrhosis of the liver, the signs of which can even be found in people who lead a moderate lifestyle, can be caused by other reasons:
- Poisoning with toxins or metals, drugs
- Abuse of fatty, spicy, spicy foods
- Viral hepatitis
- Cryptogenic cirrhosis. A particularly complex form, the origin of which doctors do not know. It proceeds rapidly, often has a fatal outcome. Indications for treatment - transplantation of a healthy organ
- Genetics. Some children inherit from their parents the ability of the liver to accumulate excess copper (Wilson's disease) or iron (hemochromatosis). Over time, the liver, overflowing with these metals, is destroyed.
- Complications after peptic ulcer disease (sclerosing cholangitis)
- Autoimmune hepatitis, in which the body begins to produce bodies that destroy healthy cells
- Congenital absence of bile ducts.
How to determine cirrhosis of the liver? There is a banal, but the only correct answer to this question. Suspecting cirrhosis of the liver, the signs of which will be listed below, an urgent examination is necessary. Healthy people should undergo medical tests at least once a year.
Signs of liver cirrhosis are quite noticeable, although not all of them appear immediately. These include:
- Enlarged liver and spleen, severity “under the pit of the stomach”
- Nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite
- Jaundice, which can spread to the whites of the eyes, limbs, or the whole body
- Bloating, swelling
- Weight loss
- Behavioral disorders: nervousness, drowsiness during the day, insomnia at night, impaired memory and attention
- The appearance of "stars" on the upper body
- Redness of the palms
Despite the fact that cirrhosis can be fatal, with timely diagnosis and treatment, it can be dealt with because the liver has the ability to regenerate. There are cases when even with a late call to doctors, the patient's life was extended by 12-15 years.
If the disease is not treated, complications can occur leading to death.
- Encephalopathy caused by liver poisoning products. It is characterized by a decrease in mental abilities, motor disorders that provoke cirrhosis of the liver, the signs of which were not diagnosed in time.
- Gastric and intestinal bleeding
- Death of the liver
In order to avoid the disease or successfully cure it, it is required to completely exclude from your life the factors leading to cirrhosis:
- Malnutrition
- Unhealthy addictions
Timely examinations by specialists will help the main filter of the body to remain full until the end of life.