As of: February 28, 2024, 3:05 p.m
By: Juliane Gutmann
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A diseased liver can be fatal.
Liver cirrhosis often arises from an existing fatty liver.
What risk factors you should know.
The liver is an important detoxification organ.
It is responsible for breaking down substances that are sometimes harmful to health such as alcohol, breakdown products from medications and toxins in the body.
If the liver is sick, it can no longer carry out this important task sufficiently well.
The most common liver disease is fatty liver disease.
In those affected, the liver cells become increasingly fatty.
If treatment is not treated, liver cirrhosis, also known as shrunken liver, can develop - a serious disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue.
This not only has a negative impact on detoxification processes, as the
German Liver Aid
informs.
Digestion and blood clotting could also be restricted by liver cirrhosis.
There is a risk of life-threatening consequences such as organ failure and liver cancer.
A number of factors increase the risk of developing liver cirrhosis, including, according to
German Liver Aid
:
An existing fatty liver
Alcohol consumption and drug abuse
hepatitis
obesity
Metabolic and autoimmune diseases
As with many other diseases, the same applies to shrunken liver: if detected early, serious consequences can be averted.
Therefore, preventive examinations are strongly recommended, especially for risk groups.
Things worth knowing about liver cirrhosis: symptoms, diagnosis and therapy
According to the German Liver Aid
and the
Pharmacy Umschau
, typical symptoms of a shrunken liver are
fatigue, weight loss, pain in the upper abdomen, skin changes such as yellowing of the skin, susceptibility to infections, confusion, dark urine and, in women, the absence of menstruation.
The disease is often recognized late because the symptoms often only appear in the late stages of the disease.
Timely diagnosis enables effective treatment and delay of disease progression, with individual therapy plans tailored to the patient.
According to internists online,
important clues to liver cirrhosis are provided
by blood and ultrasound tests as well as a liver biopsy.
If you permanently eat a one-sided and unhealthy diet, it can promote liver cirrhosis.
© Isai Hernandez/Imago
Life expectancy depends heavily on the severity of liver cirrhosis, which is why early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.
A liver transplant is often the only treatment option in advanced stages.
To prevent liver cirrhosis, one should avoid excessive alcohol consumption and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What is most important is a balanced diet, regular exercise and maintaining a normal weight.
Hepatitis vaccinations are also important preventive measures.
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This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.