Cirrhosis is primarily is a condition of severe scarring of the liver. It also leads to poor liver functioning and results in chronic liver disease. Cirrhosis is often caused by prolonged exposure to viral infections and toxins such as alcohol.

This condition is known to be a deadly ailment and damages the healthy tissues of the liver and replaces them with scar tissues. This results in inferior functioning of the liver and can also lead to loss of the organ.

According to a report released by National Institutes of Health, cirrhosis is the 12th deadly disease that leads to the death of people in the country.

Further, according to industry reports, more than 30,000 people die every year due to cirrhosis which is mainly caused by alcohol addiction and chronic hepatitis C.

Symptoms of Cirrhosis
The symptoms of cirrhosis arise when your liver fails to perform its normal functions. In the human body, the liver is responsible for the process of purification of the blood, breaking down of toxins, production of clotting proteins, and also helps with the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins. with every scar tissue being formed, it becomes tougher and tougher for the liver to function normally. In certain cases, cirrhosis does not showcase any symptoms until it makes considerable progress. The prime symptoms of cirrhosis include:

• Decrease in appetite
• Nosebleeds
• Jaundice
• Small spider-shaped arteries underneath the skin
• Weight loss
• Anorexia
• Itchy skin
• Weakness
• Difficulties in clear thinking
• Confusion
• Abdominal swelling
• Swelling of the legs
• Impotence
• Gynecomastia

Further, cirrhosis leads to pale skin, yellow eyes, reddened palms, hand tremors, enlarged liver or spleen, small testicles, excess breast tissues in men and a decrease in alertness. In chronic stages, cirrhosis can lead to various complications such as:

• Bruising due to poor clotting capabilities of blood cells
• Bleeding caused by a decrease in the number of clotting proteins
• Developing sensitivity to medications
• Failure of kidney
• Liver cancer
• Type 2 diabetes
• Insulin resistance
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• Gallstones
• Esophageal varices
• Enlarged spleen
• Edema and ascites

Treatment of Cirrhosis
The treatment of cirrhosis highly depends on the cause, symptoms and the progress of the disease. Based on the stage and characteristics of cirrhosis, doctors may recommend the below treatment procedures to the patients.

• Nitrates or beta blockers
• Complete stopping of alcohol
• Banding procedures to control the bleeding from esophageal varices
• Consumption of intravenous antibiotics for the treatment of peritonitis that can occur with ascites)
• Hemodialysis for blood purification to prevent kidney failure
• Initiation of lactulose and a low protein diet for the treatment of encephalopathy
• If the above treatment fails to manage cirrhosis, doctors recommend a liver transplant as a final treatment procedure

To prevent the symptoms of cirrhosis, one should quit alcohol, eat a balanced diet and indulge in regular exercise and physical activities. In a report by The World Health Organization, it was stated that only 20-30% of the patients infected with hepatitis B usually went on to develop liver cancer or cirrhosis.