Cirrhosis of the liver: symptoms, causes, treatment

Cirrhosis of the liver is usually called a disease in which connective tissue grows with the subsequent formation of cicatricial changes. Lack of treatment of the pathology leads to the development of liver failure or liver cancer, as a result, after a couple of years, the patient may die. How long a patient will live with this disease depends on its stage, methods of drug therapy, compliance with preventive measures and the person's lifestyle.

Causes of liver cirrhosis

The liver is a vital organ that plays a huge role in the process of digestion and cleansing the body of toxins and poisons.

The main reasons for the development of cirrhosis:

• One of the main factors provoking liver dysfunction, experts call alcoholism, because of which men mainly suffer. About half of all cirrhosis occurs due to regular libations. Alcoholic cirrhosis develops gradually and the disease can make itself felt only after 10-15 years. If you believe the results of recent studies, the cause of the pathological process is not so much the ethanol itself contained in alcohol, but an unhealthy diet, due to which the body receives less essential vitamins and trace elements.
• Viral hepatitis of various types often leads to structural disorders in the functioning of the liver. The insidiousness of hepatitis B and C lies in its sluggish course, there are many examples when cirrhosis was almost asymptomatic and was fatal after a few years.
• Long-term use of certain medicines. Inflammatory processes can provoke drugs for cancer and tuberculosis if they are used for a long time.
• In women, the so-called cryptogenic cirrhosis occurs, the cause of which is still not recognized by experts.
• Exposure to toxic substances, acute poisoning with alcohol or poisonous mushrooms can cause liver damage, which later turns into cirrhosis.
• Cirrhosis can develop against the background of other diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus, obesity, or metabolic disorders.
• Cirrhosis is also caused by autoimmune hepatitis, a complex disease in which the body perceives its own tissues as foreign and begins to produce antibodies.
• Primary biliary cirrhosis is another autoimmune disease, its essence lies in the attack of antibodies on the bile ducts of the liver.
• Secondary biliary cirrhosis does not have an autoimmune nature, it is characterized by impaired passage of bile through the biliary tract. The reasons for its development can be different, for example, stones or tumors.
• Damage to the liver by helminths.
• Chronic heart failure, provoking stagnation of blood in the liver.

Symptoms of liver cirrhosis

How severe the symptoms of the disease will be depends, among other things, on the degree of liver damage and the presence of concomitant pathologies of patients. Usually cirrhosis leads not only to the degeneration of liver tissue, but also to damage to other organs and systems of the body.

Most often, the disease is characterized by a sluggish course and mild symptoms, some patients are unaware of their illness until the last stage of cirrhosis occurs, this is a very dangerous feature, because with severe damage to the liver and other organs, death occurs within 2-3 years.

At the initial stage (corresponds to class A) the development of pathology, there are no clear signs of the disease. It is very important to diagnose the pathology at this very moment, to start treatment measures and healthy lifestyle while the liver cells are still capable of regeneration.

If a patient complains of bleeding gums, a change in consciousness, an increase in the volume of the abdomen, then, most likely, complications have arisen in the course of the disease (corresponds to class B and C).

Typical symptoms:

• decreased appetite, as a result of a sharp weight loss, depletion of the body;
• fatigue, decreased concentration, general malaise;
• restless sleep;
• intestinal discomfort - bloating, flatulence, pain;
• an increase in the size of the abdomen due to excess fluid in the abdominal region;
• the skin and mucous membranes become yellow or earthy;
• urine becomes dark in color, and feces, on the contrary, become lighter;
• swelling of the legs;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• itchy skin;
• frequent bleeding - from the gums, nose, under the skin;
• persistent bacterial infections, decreased immunity;
• in men, there may be a decrease in libido, testicular atrophy and enlargement of the mammary glands;
• cirrhosis is characterized by an increase in the size of not only the liver, but also the spleen, the surface becomes uneven, the edges of the organs sharpen;
• anemia due to a lack of vitamin B12;
• expansion of the capillary network on the face;
• a tendency to bruise.

Stages of liver cirrhosis

It is very important not to ignore the primary symptoms of the disease, therefore, the signs of all 4 stages of liver cirrhosis will be given below:

1. The first stage is called compensatory. The inflammatory process has just begun, the patient feels weak, decreased attention, general malaise and often associates his condition with stress or lack of vitamins. However, very quickly the disease progresses to the next stage.
2. In the stage of subcompensation, irreversible processes begin to occur in the organ - normal tissues are replaced by rough connective tissues. The liver is still working normally, but subsequently changes its structure; on palpation, sharp edges and increased density are felt. The patient at this moment may feel nausea and vomiting, fever, pain in the peritoneal region and other symptoms.
3. The decompensating stage is a serious disease, at this stage there is a high risk of death and the need for an organ transplant. This stage is characterized by constant bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, muscle atrophy, impotence, and large weight loss. Complications often occur, such as blood poisoning, hepatic coma, pneumonia.
4. At the last (terminal) stage, the patient falls into a coma, the organ is severely deformed and reduced in size, the spleen, on the contrary, is enlarged. Irreversible changes occur in the brain and the person dies.

Treatment of liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis should be treated for a long time and in combination with diet and preventive measures. General methods of restoring normal organ function include:

• Elimination of the immediate cause of the disease.
• Providing good rest and special diet.
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, excluding toxic substances, alcohol.

With the development of stage 3 of the disease, partial damage to all organs and systems occurs, since the liver is no longer able to process all the toxins that appear in the blood. In this case, the patient is prescribed hormonal drugs, immunosuppressants and drugs that reduce inflammation and restore liver function (Essentiale, Korsil).

Alternative treatment of liver cirrhosis

Recovery during illness depends largely on the patient himself - success will be only if the patient himself gives up addictions and begins to lead a healthy lifestyle. In addition to medicines and diet, you can try several alternative methods, before using them, you should consult your doctor:

• Fresh cabbage juice and beet juice are drunk alternately half a glass three times a day.
• Potato juice can also help your liver by drinking three glasses on an empty stomach.
• Galangal root (5 g) and galangal herb (20 g) are poured with a liter of water and put on fire, bringing the amount of liquid to half. Then the broth is infused during the day, squeezed and drunk in a glass in the morning, afternoon and evening half an hour before meals.
• The honey-lemon mixture is prepared as follows: the lemon is peeled and ground in a meat grinder along with 4 heads of garlic. After that, add about a glass of honey and a glass of olive oil and put it in the refrigerator. Should be taken 20 g three times a day before meals.
• Milk thistle infusion is a very popular remedy for liver diseases due to its regenerative properties: mix 10 g of crushed seeds with the same amount of grass. Pour everything with a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. We take a glass in the morning, afternoon and evening. A little mint can be added for flavor and aroma.

Nutrition for liver cirrhosis

The complex of therapeutic and preventive measures for cirrhosis of the liver also includes a special diet, which does not depend on the form of the disease, but differs depending on the severity and stage. With the development of liver failure and other complications, nutrition is reviewed and corrected.

The main goal in this case is to enable the body to recover, while observing certain rules for processing products.

Basic dietary guidelines:

• Food should be boiled, baked, or stewed. Only meat with coarse fibers, vegetables and fruits rich in fiber are wiped. Dishes are served slightly warm.
• Fats should be strictly limited, and the inclusion of plenty of fluids, vitamins and minerals in the diet is encouraged.
• With diarrhea, the amount of laxative products is reduced - milk, kefir, honey, etc. For constipation, you should eat more dried fruits, beets.

List of useful foods:

• Bread the highest grade is desirable to dry. The use of uncomfortable pastries and cookies is allowed.
• Soups - vegetable, chicken, cabbage soup, borscht.
• Meat - with a minimum amount of veins: beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, steamed pork. The same rule applies to fish recipes.
• Vegetables can be eaten in any form. Onions are used only after boiling.
• Dairy products are low-fat and unsalted.
• Fruit should be soft and ripe - whole or pureed.
• Sweets: marshmallow, marmalade, marshmallow, honey.
• Drinks - dried fruit compote, teas, juice.

List of prohibited products:

• rye bread, rich, fried pastries;
• broths from meat, fish, mushrooms, cabbage soup;
• fatty meats, sausages, smoked meats;
• fatty cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, spicy and salty cheeses;
• fatty fish, canned food, fish broth;
• mushrooms, legumes, onions, garlic, radishes;
• cream desserts, ice cream, chocolate;
• mustard, horseradish, adjika, pepper;
• alcohol, coffee, cocoa, cold drinks.

Prevention of liver cirrhosis

The liver is an organ that can miraculously repair itself, but it is better not to bring the disease itself, but to prevent it.

The main measures for the prevention of liver cirrhosis:

• The first golden rule of liver health is avoiding alcoholic beverages or keeping them to a minimum. And we are talking not only about strong, but also low-alcohol drinks, because ethanol is a toxic substance that tends to accumulate in the body.
• To protect yourself from the influence of viral hepatitis A, B and D, you should carefully study the information on the methods of infection, and this: blood transfusion, reusable syringe or patient hygiene items, the use of non-sterile instruments, unprotected sexual intercourse.
• Prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
• Parasite protection.
• Correct lifestyle and diet.