Cirrhosis

What Are The Symptoms of Cirrhosis of the Liver

Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. Updated: January 20, 2017
What Are The Symptoms of Cirrhosis of the Liver

Cirrhosis refers to the slow and progressive deterioration of the liver, which does not function properly due to a chronic illness. It occurs when healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue which partially blocks the flow of blood through the liver, rendering it unable to perform its vital functions. Although there are many, the most common causes of this condition are infections through hepatitis B or C or alcoholism. Early diagnosis is important to avoid possible complications. In the following OneHowTo article, we explain what are the symptoms of cirrhosis are.

You may also be interested in: What Are The Symptoms Of Liver Inflammation
Steps to follow:
1

During the early stages, the disease may be asymptomatic or the onset of symptoms occurs slowly and gradually. This will depend on how well your liver is working. That is why in most cases the condition is detected when the patient undergoes a medical examination from which problems and issues caused by inadequate liver function can be seen. Thus, it is essential to undergo medical checks and to see a doctor as soon as possible if you have any symptoms of cirrhosis as shown below.

2

In the early stages,symptoms of cirrhosis that you may experience are loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, weight loss and nausea or vomiting. The last few might be followed by bleeding, if there are oesophageal varices or blood coagulation issues.

3

When liver function worsens, other symptoms such as jaundice appear. Jaundice is the onset of a yellow colour in the skin, mucous membranes and also in the eyes due to increased levels of blood bilirubin.

4

It is also possible that abdominal swelling or oedema occurs due to fluid accumulation in the legs and the abdominal cavity. The excessive accumulation of fluid in the abdomen is a condition called ascites and causes bloating and pains in the area.

5

In addition to these symptoms, patients with cirrhosis in the later stages may also have signs such as:

  • In men: impotence, enlarged breasts (gynecomastia).
  • In the case of the women: menstrual disorders, whether irregular, rare or significant absences.
  • Appearance of spider veins.
  • Redness in the palms.
  • Stool of a pale colour.
6

We recommend you read the OneHowTo article about the treatment of cirrhosis to be aware of the possible treatments for living with this disease, as well as medical and therapeutic options. You may also be interested in reading about what the best foods to eat when suffering from cirrhosis are.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to What Are The Symptoms of Cirrhosis of the Liver, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.

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What Are The Symptoms of Cirrhosis of the Liver