Did you know that with proper treatment and diet, many people can minimize the progression of cirrhosis? Stopping the disease process as early as possible is therefore crucial.
What are the stages of cirrhosis?
In two stages:
Compensation: Compensation is the replacement of normal liver tissue to compensate for structural or functional lesions in the liver tissue. The compensatory stage is the early stage of cirrhosis, that is, the liver can maintain normal function although some lesions have occurred.
Decompensation: With the progress of the disease, liver function enters the stage of uncompensable, and a series of complications occur, such as liver ascites, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypersplenic function, etc., this stage is called the "decompensated stage".
What are the symptoms of patients with cirrhosis in different stages?
Compensation: In this stage, most patients have no symptoms, or symptoms are mild and unspecific. The symptoms can be: fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, and may be accompanied by abdominal distension, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea so on.
Decompensation: In this stage, the symptoms of the patient will be obvious.
Systemic symptoms: weight loss, fatigue, rough skin, dark complexion, inflammation of the mouth, facial telangiectasia, low fever, night blindness, edema, etc.
Gastrointestinal symptoms: loss of appetite, fullness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, etc.
Bleeding tendency and anemia: nosebleed, gingival bleeding, purpura, gastrointestinal bleeding ,and anemia;
Endocrine disorders: the skin above the papillary plane can have spider navius (the mole is red, the mole has a central point, and the small blood vessel branches around it are radiant, the whole shape is like a spider), liver palm (the inner and outer edge of the palm is red), telangiectasia, male testicular atrophy, male sexual dysfunction, hair loss, breast development; Female menstrual disorders, amenorrhea infertility.
What do patients with cirrhosis need to pay attention to on diet？
●Pay attention to strengthen nutrition, eat as much as possible high protein, high vitamin and easy-to-digest food, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs, meat (such as red meat, chicken), to improve body resistance.
●Light diet, and maintain low salt, low sugar eating habits, to avoid inducing the disease.
●Stop smoking and drinking, and avoid spicy and irritating food, such as chili, pepper, etc, so as not to affect the recovery of the disease.
Should all patients with cirrhosis limit their protein intake?
Patients with cirrhosis, especially those with decompensated cirrhosis, have varying degrees of hypoproteinemia due to the reduced protein synthesis capacity of the liver, so they should eat a protein-rich diet, and excessive protein should be restricted only in the following cases: patients with hepatic encephalopathy and after portal vena shunt surgery.
What should patients with cirrhosis pay attention to in life?
Work and rest regularly to avoid fatigue, such as heavy physical labor, intense exercise, etc.
Stop smoking and drinking;
Keep bowel movements open, as constipation increases intestinal ammonia production and absorption, which can increase the risk of hepatic encephalopathy.
Pay attention to warmth and personal hygiene to prevent infection;
Keep a good mood and avoid getting emotional.
What department should patients with cirrhosis go to?
Gastroenterology or hepatobiliary surgery.
How is cirrhosis treated?
At present, there is no specific treatment for cirrhosis, the key is to diagnose as early as possible and treat the causes and symptoms.
General treatment: Rest; High-protein, high-calorie, high-vitamin diet, no alcohol, but patients with hepatic encephalopathy should strictly limit protein intake; Patients with ascites should adopt a diet with little or no salt, and do not eat rough and indigestible food, so as not to cause gastrointestinal bleeding; Avoid using hepatotoxic drugs.
Medication:
Antiviral drugs: suitable for patients with cirrhosis caused by hepatitis virus infection, can inhibit viral DNA replication, and play an antiviral role. Common drugs include interferon alpha, tenofovir, and Tyencavir, etc. Adverse reactions include dizziness, fatigue, nausea, rash, etc. Patients with thyroiditis and anemia should be used with caution.
Liver protection drugs: suitable for most patients with liver function injury, with the role of protecting the liver cell membrane and promoting liver repair. Commonly used drugs are bicyclic alcohol, reduced glutathione and so on. Its adverse reactions include rash, nausea, vomiting, etc., allergic to this drug should not be used.
Immunomodulatory drugs: suitable for patients with cirrhosis caused by immune diseases, with the role of regulating the body's immune function, good safety. Commonly used drugs include thymosin, specific immune ribonucleic acid, etc., which may cause adverse reactions such as nausea, chest tightness, dizziness, etc., and are prohibited for patients allergic to this drug and those receiving organ transplantation.
Surgical treatment: The main surgical treatment for cirrhosis is liver transplantation, in which the original diseased liver is removed and transplanted into a healthy allogeneic liver. It is suitable for patients with advanced liver failure who have failed various treatments. After liver transplantation, anti-infection treatment is usually required, and long-term anti-rejection drugs are taken.
Cirrhosis caused ascites, how to treat it?
Depending on the degree of ascites, the doctor may choose different methods of treatment.
Use of diuretics: Diuretics are commonly used to treat patients with early cirrhosis after the first onset of ascites. Commonly used diuretics include furosemide, spironolactone, torasemide, tolvaptan and other drugs. These drugs can have different effects on the concentration of electrolyte ions such as potassium, sodium, and chlorine in the human blood. If used improperly, it may cause disturbances in the human body environment, and in severe cases, cardiac arrest. Therefore, it needs to be used under the guidance of a doctor, and the electrolyte situation needs to be tested regularly according to the doctor's requirements.
Diet adjustment: In daily life, in order to prevent the occurrence of ascites, patients with diagnosed cirrhosis should pay attention to a low-salt diet. The specific practice is to resolutely not eat finished or semi-finished foods containing salt (such as pickles, bean curd, pickles, etc.), according to the standard of no more than 6 grams per person per day, with a quantitative salt spoon to determine the amount of salt in the diet. It is recommended to use a salt spoon of 2 grams per spoon to distribute salt evenly among three meals a day.
Other methods: For patients who do not respond to diuretics or large amounts of abdominal fluid, do not wish to receive a liver transplant, or are waiting for a liver transplant, surgery may be considered. The procedure is called transjugular intrahepatic portal-body shunt (TIPS), which uses interventional radiology to establish a shunt in the liver between the portal vein and the main branch of the hepatic vein. The catheter is inserted through the jugular vein to guide the support tube to bridge the hepatic vein and the portal vein.
Suggestion
while cirrhosis is a serious disease, it's not a death sentence if caught early and managed properly. By making healthy lifestyle choices, limiting alcohol intake, eating a balanced diet, and staying active, you can protect your liver and your overall health. If you're worried, don't panic — take action! Regular checkups and small changes can make a big difference. Your liver is resilient, and with the right care, you can live a long and healthy life. Stay informed, stay proactive, and most importantly, don't worry — you already have it!
