Alcoholic Cirrhosis - hsmedlife



Alcoholic Cirrhosis is a disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue that, over time, prevents the liver from working properly. In cirrhosis, healthy liver cells are gradually replaced by scar tissue in a process called fibrosis. 

If this happens, the liver tissue, which should be smooth, becomes nodular and hard. Alcoholic cirrhosis refers specifically to cirrhosis caused by drinking alcohol. Cirrhosis can likewise be brought about by liver infections, like hepatitis B and C, and by some acquired liver diseases.

 

Alcoholic Cirrhosis

 

The part of the body that cirrhosis affects mainly is the liver, but it can also generate dysfunction in other extrahepatic and vital organs, such as the gastrointestinal system, the kidneys and even the cardiovascular system, among others. Alcoholic cirrhosis is the most serious type of a group of liver diseases and is closely related to alcohol consumption.

The principles of cirrhosis in this case occur when you drink excessive amounts of alcohol for long periods of time, contributing to the development of diseases such as fatty liver disease or hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). Simple fatty liver disease can usually be reversed by stopping drinking. However, people who continue to drink excessively are at risk of developing a more serious type of liver disease, such as hepatitis or alcoholic cirrhosis.

 

SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS

 

What symptoms does a person with cirrhosis have?

Cirrhosis are classified as compensated or decompensated. If you have compensated cirrhosis, your liver can usually withstand the damage and continue to perform most of the important functions. Most people with compensated cirrhosis have few or no symptoms.

However, without treatment, you are likely to develop decompensated cirrhosis (although this can take many years). If you have decompensated cirrhosis, you will usually have serious symptoms and complications. Whether you have alcoholic cirrhosis or it is due to other causes, in the early stages of cirrhosis you may not have any symptoms and your doctor has detected signs of liver damage with a routine blood test. 

The first symptoms of cirrhosis can include:

 

·        Loss of appetite

·        Nausea and vomiting

·        Skin itch

·        Weight loss

However, other symptoms that cirrhosis cause as it progresses and that can be signs to know if you have cirrhosis can include:

 

·        Yellowing of the skin and / or the whites of the eyes (this is called jaundice)

·        Swelling of the abdomen (tummy) and legs

·        Loss of muscle tissue

·        Spider-like blood vessels on the skin

·        Easy bruising and bleeding

·        Vomiting blood or blood in stool (a tarry black in appearance and foul odor)

·        Confusion or forgetfulness

·        High temperature (fever) due to infection (if you have cirrhosis, you are more likely to get certain infections)

·        sexual changes - if you are a man you may notice that you have less body hair, smaller testicles (testicular atrophy) and more breast tissue (gynecomastia); if you are a woman you could have irregular periods

Cirrhosis is not always the cause of these symptoms, but if you have them, consult a doctor.

If you vomit blood, your stools are black, or you have a fever, you should seek urgent medical attention.

 

CAUSES OF ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS

One of the many functions of the liver is to process the alcohol you drink. The liver can control a certain amount of alcohol, but if you drink a lot and regularly you can force it too much. Your liver can generally repair and regenerate itself. 

But if the cells are badly damaged, the liver tissue can be permanently scarred. As scar tissue builds up, the liver cannot function as effectively. You will then have less ability to process chemicals and medications, which can cause harmful substances (toxins) to build up in your body. Damage to an alcoholic's liver occurs gradually over the years until it stops working properly.

 

What amount of alcohol do you need to drink to get cirrhosis?

Alcohol-induced cirrhosis are usually caused by drinking too much for many years. There is no specific amount of alcohol that causes alcoholic cirrhosis; the amounts that can cause harm vary from person to person. In general, the more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to get alcoholic cirrhosis. 

It doesn't just affect people who have an addiction to alcohol. If you are a social drinker or an episodic heavy drinker, you also have a high chance of contracting alcoholic cirrhosis.

 

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