Introduction
Cirrhosis is a liver disease that destroys the tissue of the liver thereby affecting the functioning of the liver in an adverse manner. If this condition is not addressed in a timely manner, the liver is rendered ineffective. This condition leaves permanent scars on the liver which negatively affects the smooth functioning of the liver. There are various causes of liver cirrhosis. Nonetheless, this condition is mainly attributed to overconsumption of alcohol. Also, this condition can be caused by Hepatitis B and C virus. The fatty liver disease can also lead to liver cirrhosis (Sherman, 2012).
This condition is said to be a disease that progresses with time if not addressed. This disease develops progressively until it leads to liver failure. During formative stages of the condition, liver can repair the affected tissues and continue to function normally. In its chronic state, liver cirrhosis leads to extensive damage of liver tissues. In cirrhosis, the liver tissues are often replaced by the scar tissues thus preventing effective blood circulation in the liver (Monga, 2011).
Signs and symptoms
Liver cirrhosis is a condition that can be exhibited through various signs and symptoms. The individuals suffering from liver cirrhosis, their skin, tongue, and eyes turn yellow. It also leads to fatigue and loss of appetite at advanced stages. Easy bruising is also a very notable symptom of cirrhosis. Body system immune system is largely affected by other diseases that are viral in nature (Monga, 2011).
Types of cirrhosis
The most common form of cirrhosis is the alcohol cirrhosis, otherwise known as nutritional cirrhosis. This is brought about by high consumption of alcohol. It is estimated over ten years of drinking will likely cause alcohol cirrhosis. Alcohol cirrhosis in many instances does not exist alone, and symptoms of hepatitis C are witnessed. The second type is the nutritional cirrhosis. It is widely referred to as portal cirrhosis. There is also the biliary cirrhosis. In this regard, the bile duct is destroyed. Post necrotic cirrhosis and pigment cirrhosis are also types of cirrhosis (Monga, 2011).
Interesting facts
When patients are diagnosed with cirrhosis, the physicians advise their patients to abstain from taking foods rich in sodium. This means that salt is strictly avoided. The recommendation appears casual during the initial stages of diagnosis, but it later becomes a necessity. In advanced stages, the lifestyle of a person greatly changes and some view it as a restriction on culinary freedom (Sherman, 2012). In addition, alcohol intake is also regulated. Interestingly, a study carried on in 1978-2002 strongly indicated that coffee intake has a large likelihood of reducing the risk of cirrhosis. The taking of four cups of coffee per day is said to reduce the risk of alcohol cirrhosis for about 80%. Although coffee is said to cut the risk of cirrhosis, the highly recommended step is to abstain from alcohol abuse (Cheifetz, 2011).
Interventions
During the formative stages, the symptoms are not clear, and it is extremely hard to trace any symptom that may warrant medical evaluation. It does not take a lot of time before other symptoms that are reliable to show up. When the symptoms are clear, it is advisable for the patient to seek medical attention (Monga, 2011).
Outcomes
Evidence indicates that the surgery that is performed increases the mortality and morbidity. The knowledge of surgery for cirrhosis is categorized in high, moderate or low risk surgery according to the level of disease penetration (Crowley, 2012).
Conclusion
The main cause of cirrhosis is consumption of alcohol. However, there are other types of cirrhosis that are not caused by alcohol consumption. As already discussed, there are a lot of interventions and outcomes associated with cirrhosis. At acute stages, cirrhosis is also linked with other diseases like diabetes. The increase in coffee intake and abstinence from alcohol intake may serve to reduce the risks associated with liver cirrhosis.
References
Cheifetz, A.S. (2011). Oxford American handbook of gastroenterology and hepatology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Crowley, L.V. (2012). An introduction to human disease: Pathology and pathophysiology correlations. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Sherman, K.E. (2012). HIV and liver disease. New York: Springer.
Monga, S.P.S. (2011). Molecular pathology of liver diseases. New York: Springer.