Liver cirrhosis: symptoms, causes, treatment

Liver cirrhosis is usually called a disease in which the growth of connective tissue occurs with the subsequent formation of scar changes. Lack of treatment for the pathology leads to the development of liver failure or liver cancer, which can result in the death of the patient within a couple of years. How long a patient will live with this disease depends on its stage, drug therapy methods, 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:

• Experts call alcoholism one of the main factors provoking liver dysfunction, which mainly affects men. About half of all cirrhosis occurs due to regular drinking. 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 rather poor nutrition, due to which the body does not receive enough essential vitamins and microelements.
• 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 practically asymptomatic and led to death after a few years.
• Long-term use of certain medications. Inflammatory processes can be triggered by drugs for cancer and tuberculosis if taken for a long time.
• In women, so-called cryptogenic cirrhosis occurs, the cause of which experts still cannot recognize.
• Exposure to toxic substances, acute poisoning with alcohol or poisonous mushrooms can cause liver damage, which later develops into cirrhosis.
• Cirrhosis can develop against the background of other diseases, such as diabetes, 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 a violation of the passage of bile through the biliary tract. The reasons for its development can be different, for example, stones or tumors.
• Liver damage by helminths.
• Chronic heart failure, causing blood stagnation 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 in patients. Typically, 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 not aware 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) of the development of pathology, there are no clear signs of the disease. It is very important to diagnose the pathology at this very moment and begin treatment and management. healthy lifestyle while liver cells are still capable of regeneration.

If a patient complains of bleeding gums, changes in consciousness, or an increase in abdominal volume, then, most likely, complications arose during the course of the disease (corresponds to class B and C).

Characteristic symptoms:

• loss of appetite, as a result of sudden weight loss, exhaustion of the body;
• fatigue, decreased concentration, general malaise;
• restless sleep;
• discomfort in the intestinal area - bloating, flatulence, pain;
• an increase in the size of the abdomen due to excess fluid in the abdominal area;
• the skin and mucous membranes become yellow or sallow in color;
• urine becomes dark in color, and feces, on the contrary, become lighter;
• swelling of the legs;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• skin itching;
• frequent bleeding - from the gums, nose, under the skin;
• persistent bacterial infections, decreased immunity;
• men may experience decreased libido, testicular atrophy and enlarged 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 become sharper;
• anemia due to lack of vitamin B12;
• expansion of the capillary network on the face;
• tendency to bruise.

Stages of liver cirrhosis

It is very important not to ignore the primary symptoms of the disease, so below are the signs of all 4 stages of liver cirrhosis:

1. The first stage is called compensating. The inflammatory process has just begun, the patient feels weakness, decreased attention, general malaise and often associates his condition with stress or a lack of vitamins. However, very quickly the disease progresses to the next stage.
2. In the subcompensation stage, irreversible processes begin to occur in the organ - normal tissues are replaced by coarse connective tissue. The liver still functions normally, but subsequently changes its structure; upon palpation, pointed edges and increased density are felt. The patient at this moment may experience nausea and vomiting, increased body temperature, pain in the peritoneum 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 severe weight loss. Complications such as blood poisoning, hepatic coma, and pneumonia often occur.
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 over a long period of time and in combination with diet and preventive measures. Common methods for restoring normal organ function include:

• Elimination of the immediate cause of the disease.
• Ensuring proper rest and special diet.
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding toxic substances and 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 medications, immunosuppressants and drugs that reduce inflammation and restore liver function (Essentiale, Corsil).

Traditional treatment of liver cirrhosis

Recovery during an illness depends largely on the patient himself - success will only occur if the patient himself gives up harmful habits and begins to lead a healthy lifestyle. In addition to medications and diet, you can try several traditional methods; before using them, you should consult your doctor:

• Drink half a glass of fresh cabbage juice and beet juice alternately 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 for 24 hours, squeezed out and drunk 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 this, add about a glass of honey and a glass of olive oil and put it in the refrigerator. Take 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 herb. Pour a glass of boiling water over everything and leave for half an hour. Take a glass in the morning, afternoon and evening. You can add a little mint for taste and aroma.

Nutrition for liver cirrhosis

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

The main goal is to enable the organ to recover, while observing certain rules for processing products.

Basic recommendations for diet:

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

List of useful products:

• Bread It is advisable to dry the highest grade. It is allowed to eat unsweetened baked goods and cookies.
• Soups - vegetable, chicken, cabbage soup, borscht.
• Meat - with a minimal amount of veining: 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.
• Fruits must be soft and ripe - whole or pureed.
• Sweets: marshmallows, marmalade, marshmallows, honey.
• Drinks - dried fruit compote, teas, juice.

List of prohibited products:

• rye bread, butter, fried pastries;
• broths from meat, fish, mushrooms, cabbage soup from fresh cabbage;
• fatty meats, sausages, smoked meats;
• fatty cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, sharp 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 regenerate itself, but it is better not to lead to the disease itself, but to prevent it.

Basic measures to prevent liver cirrhosis:

• The first golden rule for liver health is to avoid alcoholic beverages or keep their consumption 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, it is worth thoroughly studying the information about methods of infection, and this is: blood transfusion, reusable use of a syringe or patient hygiene items, use of unsterile instruments, unprotected sexual intercourse.
• Prevention of heart and vascular diseases.
• Parasite protection.
• Proper lifestyle and diet.