Health Medical Resources - http://www.healthmedicalresources.com
Treatment of Cirrhosis of the Liver
http://www.healthmedicalresources.com/articles/24/1/Treatment-of-Cirrhosis-of-the-Liver/Page1.html
Charlie S Lafave

 
By Charlie S Lafave
Published on September 8th, 2008
 
Cirrhosis is characterized as a complication of the liver that is borne out by the abnormal structure and functioning of the liver. Cirrhosis accounts for the eleventh most widespread cause of death in the United States. About 50% of these are alcohol-related.

Treatment of Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cirrhosis is characterized as a complication of the liver that is borne out by the abnormal structure and functioning of the liver. Cirrhosis accounts for the eleventh most widespread cause of death in the United States. About 50% of these are alcohol-related. Statistics have revealed that almost 25,000 people die from cirrhosis every year.

Cirrhosis of the liver amounts to massive toll in terms of human suffering, hospital expenses and, most importantly, the loss of work by people affected by this disease. Common symptoms indicating cirrhosis, include, feeling tired and weak , retardation of appetite, feel uneasy in the stomach and losing weight drastically.

The primary causes leading to cirrhosis include, alcohol abuse ,chronic viral hepatitis , autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and even non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. This condition basically leads to fat deposits and swelling up of the liver. Certain drugs, toxins, and infections also leads to the occurrence of  cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis treatment is aimed at preventing the development of scar tissue in the liver and subsequently prevent further complications. The treatment for cirrhosis related to hepatitis includes medications that are administered to treat the those forms of hepatitis, such as interferon for viral hepatitis and corticosteroids for autoimmune hepatitis that are dissimilar.

Medications will be probably administered to help reduce mental functioning. Antibiotics will be prescribed in order to cater to infections, and various medications will help subside the itching.

Cortisone medicine is essentially given for the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis. Laxatives to prohibit the occurrence of constipation and to decrease the possibilities of the poisonous substances in the bowel bypassing the liver only to reach the brain, leading to drowsiness, confusion and sometimes even coma. Liver transplantation may be kept as an option for patients suffering from last-stage cirrhosis.

Liver transplantation has reached an enhanced level today, to be now almost regarded as the regulation treatment for selected cirrhosis patients. Almost 80 - 90 percent patients have proved to survive the procedure of liver transplantation. Alcohol must be avoided as much as possible as 90% of cirrhosis is proved to be caused by excessive alcohol consumption or hepatitis viruses.

Another precaution can be in the form of avoiding adding salt to meals. Though salt is a must in food, it should used in little amounts while cooking. Your chances of getting affected by hepatitis B or hepatitis C can be considerably reduced by staying away from illegal drugs.