Main symptoms of liver cirrhosis, treatment and prevention
Liver cirrhosis is an irreversible transformation of parenchymal tissue into connective tissue, which is accompanied by organ dysfunction. The main symptoms of liver cirrhosis are constant pain in the right hypochondrium, jaundice, an increase in the size of the liver. The disease has a chronic progressive nature. The result of rebirth without proper treatment is liver failure, portal hypertension and death.
Causes of cirrhosis in women and men:
- viral hepatitis;
- immune diseases accompanied by hepatitis;
- chronic diseases of the biliary tract;
- intoxication with chemical and medicinal preparations;
- genetic disorder of metabolism;
- chronic alcoholism;
- mechanical blockage of bile ducts;
- fatty degeneration of the liver, infectious diseases;
- congenital pathology.
The causes of primary biliary cirrhosis have not yet been elucidated. Most specialists are confident in the hereditary nature of the disease.
The first signs of liver cirrhosis, classification
Main stages of disease development: compensation, subcompensation, decompensation.
Taking into account the causes of the disease, specialists adhere to the following classification:
- viral (infectious) hepatitis;
- toxic (toxic-allergic);
- biliary;
- circulatory;
- metabolic and alimentary cirrhosis;
- cryptogenic.
Cirrhosis Clinic. The severity of the symptoms depends primarily on the cause, the degree of organ damage and the rate of progression. Often, the pathology is asymptomatic for a long time. The initial stage may be accompanied by discomfort in the liver after eating, bloating, bitterness in the mouth and nausea. The first signs of liver cirrhosis are noted in half of the patients.
Specific symptoms:
- loss of appetite;
- yellowing of the skin;
- strong weakness, irritability;
- skin itching;
- bruises;
- yellowing of the sclera.
Characteristic symptoms are "drumsticks", redness of the palms, a specific change in the nails and telangiectasia.
You can learn more about the disease clinic on one of the pages of our site Dobrobut.com. The medical center offers a full examination and consultation by specialized specialists. The doctor will answer all questions and tell how long patients with the last stage of cirrhosis live. Recording in round-the-clock mode.
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Biliary cirrhosis is a liver pathology that is the result of a chronic violation of the outflow of bile due to cholestasis or damage to the biliary tract. The main cause of the disease is autoimmune disorders. There is a distinction between primary and secondary biliary cirrhosis. Clinical manifestations - formation of specific plaques on the skin of the eyelids, itching, yellowish color of the skin, enlargement of the liver and spleen. In addition, patients complain of bitterness in the mouth, pain in the muscles and severe fatigue. Ascites in liver cirrhosis is a complication of pathology and occurs in advanced cases. Severe complications also include gastrointestinal bleeding and coma.
Treatment of alcoholic liver cirrhosis in men
Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver is a disease caused by regular alcohol consumption. The pathology is characterized by poisoning of the cells of the organ with their subsequent death. Small-nodular, large-nodular and mixed cirrhosis are distinguished.
Symptoms:
- fatigue, reduced working capacity;
- loss of appetite, weight loss;
- appearance of vascular stars on the skin;
- redness of the palms;
- "chronic" subfebrile temperature, muscle atrophy;
- yellowness of the skin and sclera.
Treatment of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver in men - abstaining from alcohol, following a diet and taking hepatoprotectors (drugs that restore liver cells).
Diagnosis and treatment of the disease
Before determining the course of therapy, the doctor will examine the patient and prescribe a number of additional examinations: general blood and biochemistry, general urinalysis, coagulogram, tests for markers of viral and autoimmune hepatitis, scintigraphy, immunogram and biopsy (if necessary).
The course of therapy includes drug treatment, a strict diet and physiotherapeutic methods. Note that diet in liver cirrhosis is very important.
Drugs:
- hepatoprotectors;
- viral drugs;
- vitamins;
- homeopathic drugs.
The doctor will tell you during the consultation about how to treat cirrhosis of the liver with folk medicine recipes and whether it is acceptable.
Within the diet, it is necessary to abandon fatty types of fish and meat, rich soups, fresh pastries, confectionery, fried and spicy dishes.
Physiotherapy - ultrasound on the liver area, diathermy, plasmapheresis, iontophoresis.
Despite the fact that cirrhosis is an incurable disease, with early diagnosis and qualified treatment with a clear implementation of the doctor's recommendations, the prognosis will be favorable.