How to stay away from cirrhosis: From causes to treatment, you can't miss these key points!
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cirrhosis is one of the chronic diseases with the highest mortality rate in the United States, mainly affecting adult men and the elderly. There are often no obvious symptoms in the early stages of cirrhosis, and it is not discovered until the condition worsens. Therefore, knowing the causes, symptoms and treatments of cirrhosis in advance can help you detect and treat it early.
1. Causes of cirrhosis
▸ Hepatitis and other viruses: Infection with hepatitis viruses (such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C) can cause chronic hepatitis and may progress to cirrhosis.
▸ Long-term alcoholism: Alcohol can cause inflammation of the liver, and long-term inflammatory reactions can damage liver cells and eventually lead to cirrhosis.
▸ Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): People with symptoms such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease and poor eating habits are prone to cirrhosis.
▸ Drug-induced liver injury: Certain drugs, such as certain analgesics and antibiotics, may cause liver damage and eventually cause cirrhosis.
2. Early symptoms, can you recognize them?
There are often no obvious symptoms in the early stages of cirrhosis, and many people don't seek medical attention until the liver is severely damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to know and be alert to these early signs in advance:
▸Fatigue and loss of appetite
▸Yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice)
▸Abdominal discomfort and ascites
▸Easy bruising
▸Spider veins on the skin
Symptoms of cirrhosis may be similar to other health problems. Make sure to see a doctor to make sure.
3. Prevent cirrhosis from daily life
If you are worried that you may have cirrhosis, you might as well start with these simple lifestyle changes to protect your liver health.
▸Quit drinking or drink in moderation: Limit alcohol intake and avoid alcoholism.
▸Maintain a healthy weight: Avoid excessive obesity or diabetes to reduce the burden on the liver.
▸Get vaccinated against hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is one of the common causes of cirrhosis, and vaccination against hepatitis B can effectively prevent it.
▸Be careful about the use of drugs: If you use drugs for a long time, especially some drugs that are harmful to the liver, be sure to use them under the guidance of a doctor and check your liver function regularly.
4. What is the best way to treat cirrhosis?
If you are unfortunately diagnosed with cirrhosis, treatment is critical to prevent the disease from getting worse.
▸ Drug treatment: For viral cirrhosis, antiviral drugs can effectively control the hepatitis B or C virus and slow liver damage.
▸ Dietary adjustments and lifestyle: A high-fiber, low-fat diet can help reduce the burden on the liver. Quitting alcohol, reducing high-fat foods, and maintaining adequate water intake are also effective methods.
▸ Liver transplantation: For patients with advanced cirrhosis and liver failure, liver transplantation may be the only effective treatment.
If cirrhosis has affected your health, please seek help from a professional doctor as soon as possible.
Although cirrhosis is a progressive disease, as long as we understand its causes, symptoms and preventive measures in a timely manner, we can make positive changes in our daily lives and effectively reduce the risk of disease. By taking preventive measures such as quitting drinking, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting vaccinated against hepatitis, we can protect our livers from damage; and by identifying the symptoms of cirrhosis early and seeking medical treatment in time, we can also take treatment measures before the condition worsens to prevent it from getting worse. Most importantly, cirrhosis is not an irreversible death. Early intervention and health management are the key. Is it time to re-examine your lifestyle? Giving your liver more care is the wisest choice.
