Cirrhosis of the liver is the name of a disease that damages the liver... The liver is a large organ on the right and upper side of the abdomen... Damage to the liver can cause severe bleeding and swelling and breathing problems... What are the symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver?... Some people with cirrhosis have no symptoms, but if symptoms do appear, they may include: - Swelling in the abdomen and legs and accumulation of fluid in the lungs - Severe bleeding from blood vessels in the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.. - Bruising or bleeding - Difficulty in breathing - Feeling of fullness and satiety - Feeling tired - Sleep problems in the form of too little or too much sleep - Yellowing of the skin or whiteness of the eyes, which is called jaundice - Sudden dizziness - Coma Cirrhosis can also increase the chance of infection and increases the risk of liver cancer.. What causes cirrhosis of the liver?.. When something damages the liver, the organ tries to repair itself.. In the process, scarring occurs.. Causes of liver damage include: ### Excessive alcohol consumption People who are addicted to alcohol or drink a lot are more at risk of liver cirrhosis.. ### Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C Viruses cause liver diseases.... The virus of this disease is transmitted in people through sharing needles or sexual intercourse with infected people.... ### Abnormal steatohepatitis (NASH) People with this disease often do not drink alcohol....Doctors are not yet sure what causes NASH, but many people with this disease are overweight and have diabetes....Is there a test for cirrhosis?..Yes, tests available to diagnose this disease include: - Biopsy In this test, the doctor inserts a needle into the liver and removes a small sample of the tissue... the sample shows how damaged the liver is... - blood test Blood test results can show what is causing the disease.... - Imaging The doctor may prescribe imaging of the liver with ultrasound or MRI... Can I do anything to prevent further damage to the liver? The answer is yes.... To protect liver health, you can try the following solutions: ### Avoid alcohol Check with your doctor before starting any new medication, including pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen. Also, check with your doctor before taking any herbs, vitamins, or supplements. Some medications and supplements can damage the liver. Treatment for cirrhosis depends on its cause, severity, and symptoms. ### Treatment of the cause of the disease Some causes of liver cirrhosis are treatable.. For example, people with alcoholic cirrhosis can stop drinking.. People with chronic hepatitis C and B can also take medication... ### Reduces the risk of bleeding... Cirrhosis can irritate the blood vessels around the esophagus and cause bleeding.. To prevent this from happening, your doctor can: - Prescribing drugs called beta blockers.... These drugs lower the blood pressure of the liver and reduce the chance of bleeding.... - Place small bands around the swollen blood vessels.... ### Decrease abdominal fluid People with cirrhosis of the liver may experience fluid in the abdomen. To reduce the amount of fluid produced, the doctor can: - They prescribe drugs called diuretics.... These drugs increase urination.... People who use this category of drugs should also reduce their salt intake.... - Remove fluids from the stomach using a needle... The possibility of infection in people with cirrhosis is much higher than in normal people... Also, if an infection occurs, these people need to prevent the disease or need antibiotic treatment.. People with cirrhosis should also Get the flu shot and other vaccines to prevent common infections.. Advanced cirrhosis can cause dizziness... The doctor usually uses lactulose which is a stool bulker or even prescribes some antibiotics to treat the dizziness.. Is a new liver needed?. People with severe cirrhosis need to receive a new liver.. Before the disease is too advanced, it is best to talk to your doctor about surgery to see if a liver transplant would be a good option for you... It will take at least two years to find a new liver... Can liver cirrhosis be prevented? If you do the following, you can reduce your chances of developing cirrhosis... - If you have alcohol problems, seek help from your doctor. - If you haven't received the Hepatitis B or Hepatitis A vaccine yet, take action... - Use a condom during sex... - Do not share the medicine needle with anyone... Mehdi Afzal Aghaei, a specialist in digestive and liver diseases in Mashhad, has a specialized board. > > To schedule an appointment, you can call (051) 38704066 every day... > > Office address: Mashhad, Kausar Blvd., between Kausar 2 and 4 - Farabi Building - 2nd floor **Gastroenterologist in Mashhad** ==================================== **\*Gastroenterologist in Mashhad\***