The human liver performs many important functions for the body, including detoxification, maintenance of blood glucose and cholesterol levels, digestion and circulation. Cirrhosis is irreversible damage to the liver caused by alcoholism,...
Signs and symptoms of cirrhosis vary between the different stages and may be undetected until after the initial stage. Biological factors may play a part in inheriting cirrhosis, but that is rare. Behavioral factors play the biggest role. Knowing...
At this stage of cirrhosis significant amounts of scar tissue have accumulated in the liver, affecting the organ's ability to function properly. Cirrhosis is a life-threatening condition, according to the American Liver Foundation, that is always...
Chronic cirrhosis, which is ongoing inflammation and scarring of the liver over many years, leads to liver failure. The liver is the largest and most vascular organ in the body. The liver performs over 400 functions that involve storing blood and...
Cirrhosis of the liver describes a disease of progressive tissue destruction characterized by the replacement of hard fibrous tissue riddled with nodules. This disease typically becomes chronic, and often patients are unaware of the disease...
Liver cirrhosis, according to MedlinePlus, is a disease in which the normal tissue of the liver is replaced by scar tissue and ceases to function normally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 112,000 people in the...
Consumption of alcohol can cause acute episodes of lapses in judgment, inappropriate behavior and hangovers. In addition, chronic exposure to alcohol places a tremendous burden on the liver. Many chronic drinkers develop cirrhosis of the liver, a...
The liver is essential for eliminating toxins and manufacturing many vitamins. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver caused by inflammation from either toxins or disease. According to Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS RN, and M. Linda Workman, Ph.D, authors...
Alcoholism is a disease that has detrimental physical, psychological and social effects. One of the severe physical effects of excessive alcohol use is scarring of the liver, also called cirrhosis of the liver. According to Medline Plus, alcohol...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an estimated 3.2 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis C infection. While the disease varies in severity from person to person, the American Gastroenterological Association...
Alcohol is highly addictive for many people, with the threshold for addiction varying by environmental circumstances and genetic makeup. Excessive consumption has repercussions for society, families and the individual. Biologically, alcohol can...
People with cirrhosis of the liver should be physically active unless advised otherwise by their physician. Physical exercise is a vital component of any healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise while suffering from cirrhosis can help enhance your...
Educate yourself about the symptoms of cirrhosis in order to recognize whether you may be in the early stages of liver disease. A very common physical symptom of cirrhosis is jaundice, a yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes. Jaundice...
Sodium is an electrolyte that helps the body control levels of water in the body. Low levels of sodium, also called hyponatremia, may occur because of medications, such as diuretics, severe burns, diarrhea, vomiting, and medical conditions such as...
Alcohol is a commonly consumed substance which is processed by the liver. When the liver metabolizes alcohol it produces some byproducts that are toxic to the liver. The liver is able to heal itself, but it needs time to recover. In extreme cases,...
Liver damage can be a very uncomfortable condition, causing considerable illness or even death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that, in 2007, over 29,000 people died from chronic liver disease or cirrhosis, scarring of the...
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a liver disease that occurs in people who do not drink alcohol. NASH causes high amounts of fat to accumulate in the liver and makes it appear swollen and inflamed. In...
Autoimmune diseases are ailments that cause harm to your immune system and often attack different organs. If you suffer from any of these diseases, maintaining keen awareness of what symptoms you could experience is imperative for staying healthy....
Cirrhosis is a serious condition that must be monitored and treated. There are several home treatment options that can help prevent your cirrhosis, and its symptoms, from getting worse. However, they cannot cure your condition, and you should...
Milk thistle is a tall, spiny plant native to the Mediterranean. It has large, purple flowers and propagates easily enough to be considered a noxious weed in some places. For at least 2,000 years, the seeds of the milk thistle have been used in...
Cirrhosis is a serious, sometimes fatal condition that attacks the liver. Scar tissue begins to replace the normal tissue of the liver, causing problems with blood flow. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, once...
The liver is a vital organ that cleans toxins from the blood, helps with digestion, and even fights infection. If the liver continually works hard to process drugs or alcohol, liver disease can develop, which can lead to liver failure. Early liver...
A virus that damages the liver, hepatitis C passes from person to person through contaminated blood. The Mayo Clinic notes that the most common transmission method of hepatitis C is shared needle use, such as from drug use. About 4.1 million...
Your liver plays an important role in regulating the amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream. A healthy liver manufactures between 700 and 900 mg of cholesterol each day, according to Iowa State University Extension. Cirrhosis is a liver...
The human liver performs hundreds of individual functions including storing and metabolizing vitamins and nutrients, fighting infection, and producing bile which is vital to breaking down fats. Liver damage typically occurs over time and becomes...
Liver cirrhosis is a chronic disorder that leads to the progressive destruction of liver tissue and function. Diseases, such as alcoholism, hepatitis or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, may cause liver cirrhosis to develop in some people....
Being obese increases your chances for premature death and disability. Your body mass index is a numerical estimate of the amount of body fat that you have. As your body mass index rises, so does the prevalence of serious medical conditions. These...
Cirrhosis is a permanent scarring of the liver due to damaged tissue, and risk factors include alcohol abuse, obesity and infections. You may have no symptoms at first, but you may develop weakness, fatigue and liver failure. A healthy diet cannot...
The liver helps your body process everything you eat and drink and turns it into energy and nutrients. It also aids in removing toxins from the blood, including alcohol. If you consistently drink more alcohol than your body can process and...
Cirrhosis is a condition that causes irreversible scarring of the liver. As scar tissue replaces normal tissue, blood flow through your liver is affected. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Cirrhosis in this video.
Hepatitis B is liver inflammation that results from a DNA virus. Learn more about hepatitis B, including symptoms and treatments, in this video.
Gallstones are solid deposits of cholesterol or calcium salts that form in your gallbladder or nearby bile ducts. Complications from gallstones can be serious, and even fatal, if left untreated. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and...