Causes and Symptoms of Cirrhosis You Need to Know
Causes and Symptoms of Cirrhosis You Need to Know |
However, what are the causes and symptoms of this disorder that occurs in the liver? Here's the explanation!
Causes of cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a condition of scar tissue in the final stage of the liver that makes the organ perform its functions. In its most severe stages, this condition can even be life-threatening.
This condition occurs when the liver tries to repair itself and can cause scarring during the process.
Well, there are several things that cause cirrhosis, namely:
I have consumed too much alcohol over the years. Long-standing infection with hepatitis, especially hepatitis B or C. Have a fatty liver associated with obesity and diabetes but not related to alcohol consumption. This condition is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Conditions That Cause Cirrhosis
There are several other causes of scar tissue disorders in the liver, namely:
1. Hereditary disease
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, namely the accumulation of abnormal protein in the liver Wilson's disease, a condition where excess iron is stored in the liver, Cystic fibrosis, a disorder of the liver due to the accumulation of sticky and thick mucus Glycogen storage disease Alagille syndrome, which is born with a number of bile ducts below normal,
2. Diseases that damage the bile ducts in the liver
Primary biliary cholangitis, the result of which the bile ducts are injured and then inflamed, causing permanent damage. Primary sclerosing cholangitis, inflammation of the bile ducts, which causes scarring and narrowing of the ducts, and accumulation of bile in the liver. Blocked bile ducts: this condition causes infection and decreased product reserves in the liver. Biliary atresia: Babies are born with problems in the bile ducts, resulting in scarring of the liver.
Several other conditions that cause cirrhosis of the liver include:
Autoimmune hepatitis Chronic heart failure Rare disease (amyloidosis).
The changes that occur when a person has a problem with the liver occur gradually. Cells in the liver can be injured repeatedly, eventually dying.
Scar tissue will replace damaged liver cells, which eventually will not function normally.
Symptoms caused by cirrhosis
A person who has this liver disorder doesn't always have symptoms until the damage gets worse.
There are several symptoms that may occur as a sign, such as:
Experiencing fatigue. Body that bleeds or bruises easily Loss of appetite Swelling in the legs, feet, or ankles Experiencing weight loss for no reason. Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice) Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (ascites). The blood vessels in the skin resemble those of a spider. Confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy).
If you experience one or more of the cirrhosis symptoms listed above, it's a good idea to get checked out at the hospital immediately.
The sooner cirrhosis is diagnosed, the more effective the treatment can be. That way, the scar tissue that forms can be prevented from getting worse.
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