HEPATIC CIRRHOSIS

HEPATIC CIRRHOSIS

Cirrhosis is an advanced stage of liver damage which severely decreases patients’ quality of life. Here, healthy liver cells get replaced with scar tissue which severely damage the liver. The job of the scar tissue is to block the blood flow through the liver and decrease the ability of the liver to process nutrients, drugs and natural toxins. Production of proteins and other useful substances also gets decreased and the disorder ultimately becomes life threatening since the hepatocytes get permanently damaged.

Is Hepatic Cirrhosis reversible?

The damage caused by the disease is permanent. So question of it’s reversibility doesn’t arise at all. If the complications are caught early, there are chances to slow down or stop the progression of the disease. But the conditions can’t be reversed.

Symptoms of Liver Cirrhosis:

As the stage of the disease, so are the symptoms. In the preliminary stage, it may be almost symptom less. Earlier in the process the following symptoms can be observed:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Rising body temperature
• Fatigue
• Weight loss

As liver function worsen, more commonly recognized symptoms which are apparently visible are:

1.Confusion, loss of memory and personality change.

2. Redness in the palms of the hands.

3. Enlargement of breasts (gynecomastia) in men and shrunken testes.

4. Premature menopause in women.

5. Brownish or orangeish colour of urine.

6. Fluid buildup in the abdomen.

7. Light colour of the stools.

8. Blood in the stools.

9. Oedema in the legs and ankles.

10. Itchy skin.

11. Yellowish skin and eyes due to jaundice.

Complications arising from Hepatic Cirrhosis

Portal Hypertension

Most common complications is the portal Hypertension i.e. increase in the blood pressure of the hepatic portal vein caused by a blockage of blood flow through the liver. This partial blockage can cause enlargement of the veins in the oesophagus and gastrointestinal tract leading into a condition called VARICES.. As a result, the veins may burst causing severe internal haemorrhage.

Amyloidosis

This is the rare disorder caused due to abnormal deposits of proteins called amyloid in the liver disrupting normal functioning of the liver.

Common causes of Cirrhosis

Most of the common causes of hepatic Cirrhosis are as follows:

• Liver cells are injured (may be for any cause) and if this injury continues, hepatocytes start to die and the scar tissue replaces damaged hepatocytes.
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Diseases that damage or block the bile duct cause obstruction to liver and other pathway of the digestive tract.
• Primary biliary cholangitis causing injury to the bile duct and may cause permanent damage.
• Biliary Atresia in neonatal stage.
• Alcohol related liver disorder which becomes a chronic gradually.
• CHRONIC viral infection like hepatitis B and C.
• Non alcoholic steatohepatitis caused due fatty liver associated with obesity.
• Haemochromatosis causing excess iron deposition in the liver.
• Excess copper deposit causing Wilson disease.
• Cystic fibrosis
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency due to abnormal protein deposit.
• Any disorder that can damage the liver.

Foods to prioritise on Hepatic Cirrhosis diet

• Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, green peas, potatoes, 🍅 tomatoes.
• Legumes like chickpeas, lentils, grams, beans.
• Nuts like walnut, almond, cashew nutspistachio, macadamia.
• Proteins like eggs, dairy products, seafood, leanmeat, fish and poultry.
• Fruits like apple 🍎, orange 🍊, berries 🍒, plums, peach 🍑.
• Seeds of pumpkin, flax, chia seed, hemp which are rich in Omega 3.
• Whole grains like oats, brown rice, quinoa and buckwheat.
• Beverages like tea green tea and plenty of water.
• Heart healthy fatty acids rich in HDL like olive 🫒 oil, avocado 🥑 oil, rice bran oil, salmon fish 🐟, Tuna fish, Mackerel, Hilsa fish.
• Herbs and spices like black pepper, cumin seeds, cinnamon, parsley, thyme.

Whenever you are on Liver Cirrhosis diet, kindly avoid any food or drink that can’t be processed by the liver. Avoid diet rich in trans fats and unhealthy fried foods. It’s also best to avoid raw or undercooked meat, poultry products and seafood. Unprocessed nuts and avocados are fine to enjoy in moderation. Avoid LDL.

Category of foods to avoid:

• Highly processed fast food
• Unhealthy fatty foods like margarine
• Microwave cooked popcorn
• Chips and crackers
• Processed hotdogs, sausage, beef jerky
• Undercooked poultry, fish and mollusks

Alcoholic beverages should be strictly avoided. If there is a problem in moderating or struggle with alcohol dependence, kindly share your views with a physician.

Cirrhosis is a progressive and irreversible disease and worsens over time. Treatment focuses on slowing down its progression, depending on how severe it is.