The liver is a large organ that is situated on the right-hand side of the abdomen. It is a meaty organ which is reddish-brown in colour and is sectioned into the right lobe and left lobe. Some of the functions of the liver are:
- Filtering the blood that comes from the digestive tract before circulating it in the body.
- Removing harmful chemicals and breaking down drugs to be absorbed by the body.
- Making proteins that help in blood clotting.
- Making enzymes that help in digesting food.
- Storing sugar and nutrients.
When the liver gets hurt, it attempts to repair itself and in the repairing process, scar tissues are formed. The excessive build-up of scar tissues hampers the functioning of the liver. When these scar tissues start replacing the healthy liver cells, it leads to the occurrence of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis progresses slowly and gradually and is the result of long-term and continuous damage to the liver.
Symptoms of cirrhosis
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- A significant and sudden decrease in appetite
- Unintended weight loss
- Red and patchy palms
- White nails
- Blood-vessels forming the shape of spider-web under the skin
- Blood capillaries becoming prominent on the skin of the abdomen
- Jaundice
- Insomnia
- Itchy skin
- Dark urine
- Dark and tarry or pale stool
- Blood in vomiting
- Swelling in legs and belly due to fluid build-up
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat
Patients experiencing these symptoms should not wait to see the best hepatologist in Delhi or anywhere else.
Causes of cirrhosis
- Excessive alcohol intake and alcohol addiction
- Obesity, which makes people vulnerable to conditions that cause cirrhosis
- Chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C
- Cystic fibrosis
- Diseases due to which the body is unable to process sugar
- Hemochromatosis, the excessive iron build-up in the body
- Wilson’s disease, accumulation of copper in the liver
- Autoimmune diseases that cause the immune system to attack the liver
To diagnose cirrhosis, doctors start with performing a thorough physical examination. They ask the patients about alcohol consumption and check for the tenderness and enlargement of the liver. If the doctor suspects, they ask patients to get blood tests and ultrasound done.
Dr. Vikas Singla 