The liver is a stubborn organ. Even if a part is damaged, it can recover. This liver can sometimes become hardened (cirrhosis). This is a very serious problem.
Ka Leyam is a stubborn organ. Even if a part is damaged, it can recover. This liver can sometimes become hardened (cirrhosis). This is a very serious problem. Various factors are responsible for this. The scar tissue that forms in this slowly expands into the healthy tissue. Blood circulation is gradually obstructed. This makes the work of the liver difficult. All the functions like filtering toxins, nutrients, separation of medicines, and making proteins will fall down. Eventually the liver will fail completely.
What are the symptoms?
Hardening of the liver does not cause any major symptoms at first. As the problem worsens, fatigue and loss of appetite begin. The skin may become pale, itchy and swollen. Urine becomes dark. Stomach and legs become swollen due to the accumulation of fluids that are not expelled from the stool. Some may feel nauseous. Sometimes the brain becomes numb. Delirium may begin.
What are the reasons?
Various factors contribute to hardening of the liver. If you know about these, you can take care in advance.
- Drinking too much alcohol can cause the liver to swell. The liver takes fat. This eventually leads to hardening of the liver. But many people don’t notice it because it comes on slowly. Some believe that drinking alcohol is good for the heart. In fact, it should be recognized that the disadvantages are more than the advantages. People who are not addicted to alcohol should not go for it. If it is a habit, make sure not to exceed the limit.
- Some people may develop fatty liver (Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) even if they do not drink alcohol. The exact reason for this is not known. But people with overweight, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are more likely to get it. When the fatty tissue begins to damage the liver (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis- NASH), symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, weakness, itchy skin, and weakened and swollen blood vessels under the skin appear.
- Hepatitis C infection lasting 6 months or longer is considered chronic infection. This can lead to hardening of the liver. The main cause of chronic hepatitis is the hepatitis C virus. It can be caused by certain types of drugs, bacteria, other viruses, immune system mistakenly attacking our body. Hepatitis C can be passed on to others through unprotected sex, blood and genital secretions with infected people. It is also spread by sharing needles among drug users.
- Problems with the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder can also lead to liver disease. When these ducts are narrowed or blocked, bile accumulates in the liver. This causes the liver to swell and get damaged. Doctors treat it depending on the cause. The vessels are opened with medication or minor surgery.
- Medicines like methotrexate used to relieve pain and isoniazid used to treat tuberculosis have the potential to damage the liver. Certain antibiotics and cholesterol-lowering statins can also damage the liver. So when you go to the doctor, you should explain about the medicines you are using. If you feel tired, nauseous, body itches, or something is not right when using new medicines, you should immediately take it to the doctor’s attention.
How to determine?
Doctors diagnose the problem based on the symptoms. Liver function tests, ultrasound and MRI tests are used to diagnose liver cirrhosis. If necessary, a small piece is taken out from the liver and tested.
What is the treatment?
It is impossible to heal the already scarred part of the liver. But it can be prevented and prevented from spreading quickly. If you are addicted to alcohol, you should stop immediately. If you lose weight, there is a chance of reducing fat in the liver. For problems like infections and blockages in the bile ducts, medicines are prescribed. If you remove those causes, you can make sure that the problem does not worsen.
