Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver: symptoms and first signs, treatment for alcoholics

The liver of older people often suffers from chronic diseases of the endocrine system, unbalanced nutrition, pathologies of the cardiovascular system, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus.

According to statistics, the liver in old age is enlarged in 95% of people. The most common diseases among patients aged 60-75 years are hemangioma, fatty hepatosis, cirrhosis, HD, hepatomegaly.

It is possible to stabilize the functionality of the hepatobiliary system and achieve stable remission of a certain disease even in old age. Hepatoprotectors, choleretic medications, enzymes help with this. Let’s take a closer look at the features of the course of GBS pathologies in the elderly, and find out how to treat them.

Causes of the disease

Any person should know the main causes of cirrhosis; this is the only way to promptly suspect the presence of pathology. Most often, liver cirrhosis develops in women for the following reasons:

Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, causing chronic intoxication. If a person does not control his alcohol consumption, the disease begins to develop after 8-10 years of constant drinking. Since the female body is more susceptible to the negative effects of alcohol than the male body, it is enough for ladies to drink 20 grams of vodka per day for cirrhosis to begin to develop.
Presence of hepatitis B, C and D.
The presence of autoimmune abnormalities that provoke the development of hepatitis.
Impaired functioning of the biliary tract.
Cholelithiasis. Even if the patient suffers from the disease for only six months, the likelihood of developing cirrhosis increases several times.

Cholelithiasis
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Chemical intoxication. Exposure to mercury, benzene, chloroform and lead is especially dangerous.
Long-term use of certain medications. As practice shows, one of the main reasons for the development of cirrhosis in women is illiterate treatment with active drugs. Liver damage is caused by anabolic steroids, anti-tuberculosis and anti-cancer components.
Metabolic failure leading to the development of hepatocerebral dystrophy, glycogenesis, hemochromatosis and other disorders.
Congenital absence of bile ducts (refers to anatomical anomalies).
Primary biliary cirrhosis without any apparent cause. The deviation in most cases is diagnosed in women after 45 years.
Change in organ structure due to large amounts of fat. Occurs only in the presence of excess weight (diabetes, obesity).
Liver damage by parasites and infectious diseases.
Carrying out operations in the gastrointestinal tract that caused unwanted complications.

Experts say, despite the fact that liver cirrhosis can appear due to various primary sources, most often its occurrence is associated with an uncontrolled craving for alcohol. It is women suffering from alcoholism who are most often diagnosed with this disease.

Causes of alcoholic cirrhosis

According to research data, chronic alcoholism leads to the development of liver cirrhosis in 25% of cases. The main reasons provoking the development of the disease include:

Presence of hepatitis viruses. The most dangerous for the organ is hepatitis C. It provokes the disease in 97% of cases.
Long-term use of alcoholic beverages.
Genetic predisposition.
Unbalanced diet, resulting in a deficiency of vitamins and proteins in the body.
Abuse of spicy and fatty foods.

Manifestation of the disease at the first stage

If a pathogenic process develops in the liver, then at an early stage cirrhosis practically does not make itself felt; the woman may not be aware of the development of the disease during the first six months. Another difficulty is that in the initial stages the symptoms of the pathology are very similar to many other ailments, as a result of which patients are often prescribed illiterate treatment, and the lesion continues to develop.

At the initial stage of liver cirrhosis, cells are destroyed gradually. Their functions are performed by healthy tissues, which is why most women do not experience severe discomfort and pain. But when the pathogenic process affects a significant part of healthy tissue, the liver will not be able to remove the accumulated toxins and wastes, and signs of intoxication will begin to appear in the body.

The first symptoms of cirrhosis:

increased fatigue and loss of performance. After 3-5 months of disease development, fatigue will become chronic;
sleep problems, constant insomnia;
lack of concentration, partial memory loss;
general weakness and loss of strength;
lack of appetite.

In most cases, such signs do not force a person to visit the clinic, since similar symptoms can occur with ordinary vitamin deficiency, depression and stress. But even if a woman seeks help at the hospital, there is no guarantee that the patient will be diagnosed with cirrhosis. At an early stage, only a biochemical analysis helps to identify the disease, but it is prescribed extremely rarely.

Experts assure that the occurrence of individual signs is not a cause for concern, but if a woman has several symptoms at once, and they do not go away within 2-4 months, she urgently needs to visit a specialist and undergo the necessary tests.

Signs of cirrhosis in subsequent stages

When the disease enters the subcompensation stage, the symptoms of liver cirrhosis in women will become more pronounced and begin to progress as the organ deteriorates further. But, despite serious damage, the liver will still work, and most of its functions will be preserved. How liver cirrhosis manifests itself at this stage depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the primary source of the disease. Some symptoms can be classified as secondary disease:

sudden weight loss;
the appearance of a bitter taste in the mouth;
periodic pain in the area of the right side (under the ribs);
heaviness in the stomach. A feeling of fullness may occur after a light snack;
nausea and flatulence;
problems with stool;
disruption of the menstrual cycle;
deterioration of skin condition. The epidermis on the face and entire body will become duller and drier, and will lose its former elasticity.

Just like at the initial stage, the woman will constantly experience fatigue, only the weakness will be very strong. Even on weekends, in the absence of household chores and full sleep, a woman will not feel rested. Most people, when such symptoms occur, believe that they are faced with minor deviations, so they do nothing for treatment.

When cirrhosis of the liver, the symptoms of which are almost always the same in women, begins to develop, diagnosing the disease will become much easier. Despite the fact that the pathology does not have specific symptoms indicating its presence, if such deviations occur, any experienced doctor will suspect the presence of cirrhosis in a woman and prescribe the appropriate diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver should begin, first of all, with a complete cessation of alcohol consumption. This is the main condition for recovery.

Diet

It is imperative to follow a special diet that has increased calories and increased protein content. The principle of gentle nutrition is also applied, which excludes spicy, fried, fatty, and rough foods. Meals are taken 5–6 times a day. Be sure to enrich the diet with vitamins and microelements. Diet No. 5 according to Pevzner most fully meets all these criteria.

Conservative treatment

Drug treatment is aimed at maintaining impaired liver function and correcting disorders of all types of metabolism. Medical and social rehabilitation of alcoholism is also provided. A narcologist is involved in treatment. For this purpose the following are appointed:

Hepatoprotectors.
S-Adenosylmethionine preparations.
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) preparations.
Vitamin therapy, especially those with antioxidant properties: A, C, E, and also B.
Detoxification therapy.
Glucocorticoids.
Anabolic steroids are prescribed according to indications.
Symptomatic treatment - for example, the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors for arterial hypertension, etc.

Complications of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver are also treated - symptoms of portal hypertension, concomitant bacterial infection, hepatic encephalopathy.

Surgery

In the terminal stage of ADC, the only method of treatment and prolongation of life is liver transplantation. However, the selection of such patients presents certain difficulties, the main of which is the frequent relapse of alcoholism after treatment.

Therefore, several specific criteria for selecting patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver for liver transplantation were compiled:

Complete abstinence from drinking alcohol for at least 6 months.
Group C according to Child-Pugh.
Stable socio-economic situation.
Availability of a job to which the patient will return after surgery.
No alcohol damage to other organs.

If necessary, surgical treatment of complications of ADC is performed. For example, removal of the spleen (splenectomy) when it is markedly enlarged. As well as surgical treatment of symptoms of portal hypertension - various types of bypass (formation of a bypass blood flow path) in order to reduce the load on the portal venous system. When bleeding develops from varicose veins of the esophagus or rectum, they are sutured, bandaged, sclerosed, etc.

Specific signs

Sometimes the symptoms of liver cirrhosis in women may have an unusual manifestation:

The appearance of a yellowish tint to the skin and whites of the eyes. This symptom in the early stages may be the cause of excessive alcohol consumption. Due to multiple disorders in the functioning of the body, many alcoholics suffer from this disorder.
In approximately 15% of patients suffering from alcoholic cirrhosis or hepatitis, jaundice appears in the first stages.
Itching and scabies. When the liver partially ceases to cope with its functions, bile acids begin to accumulate under the skin, causing severe itching. At the initial stages, such a deviation almost never occurs.
Redness of fingers. A specific reaction is caused by an excessive concentration of bilirubin in the blood.
The appearance of spider veins in the shoulders, neck and chest.
The appearance of bruises without receiving bumps and bruises. Hematomas will form due to the fact that the walls of the capillaries are greatly thinned and blood clotting is impaired. Also, in people suffering from liver failure, blood may often come from the nose.

Bloody nasal discharge
Periodic increase in body temperature.
A woman with cirrhosis and hepatitis may feel that the liver has increased in size. A change in the size of the organ, and the appearance of tuberosity can be felt even with your fingers. If in the early stages the change in the structure of the organ is insignificant, later the liver will become so deformed that upon visual inspection its sharp edge will be noticeable.
The body’s protective functions will be greatly weakened, which will increase the likelihood of infectious diseases occurring in the early stages.
The appearance of varicose veins.
The color of the urine will change, becoming darker and more cloudy.

An experienced medical specialist will be able to diagnose pathology only by a person’s appearance. In most cases, with cirrhosis, the skin tone in women becomes reddish, and a bright border appears around the lips.

Diagnosis

Instrumental and laboratory diagnostics play an important role in determining the causes of the disease. In addition, the doctor must interview the patient, determine possible alcohol or drug addiction (common causes of the disease) and hereditary factors.

A personal examination can diagnose the development of ascites, incipient jaundice, or enlarged liver size. For a more accurate diagnosis, additional research methods are used.

How to determine cirrhosis:

A biochemical blood test will show characteristic changes (increased bilirubin levels, low hemoglobin and other indicators).
Urine and stool tests will also be abnormal.
A blood coagulogram will help determine clotting disorders.
An ultrasound of the abdominal organs is performed.
Dopplerometry of blood vessels is required to identify pathologies.
If necessary, a liver tissue biopsy is performed.

Comprehensive examinations of the body, such as a computer or magnetic resonance imaging scan, will help determine the extent of organ damage, as well as related problems.

Early diagnosis is an important stage for effective treatment of cirrhosis. You should not delay seeing a doctor or self-medicate, because this disease will not go away on its own.

Hepatic encephalopathy

Despite the fact that when the first signs of liver cirrhosis begin to appear in women, the disease almost immediately begins to negatively affect the performance of the brain. As toxins begin to accumulate in the body, the following problems may occur:

deterioration in speed of thinking;
changes in a person’s character and behavior;
disorder of the nervous and muscular system.

Cirrhosis of the liver

Many alcoholics with advanced cirrhosis develop aggressiveness and nervousness. Such symptoms at the initial stage occur extremely rarely, but in the future they can knock a person out of the usual rhythm of life.

Is liver cirrhosis curable?

Is it possible to cure cirrhosis of the liver? Since this disease causes an irreversible process of death of organ cells, it is impossible to restore the liver. However, modern medicine makes it possible to stop the development of pathology with its early diagnosis and adequate treatment. Using folk remedies at home, you will not achieve results, so you need to entrust your life to a qualified doctor.

The specialist will not guarantee a complete cure for the patient, but the chances of prolonging his life will be much greater if he goes to the hospital in a timely manner. The disease cirrhosis requires complex therapy, which includes not only taking prescribed medications, but also changing the patient’s lifestyle, giving up bad habits and following the basics of a healthy diet.

Formation of edema

Whatever the reasons for this disease, with cirrhosis, excess fluid and salts almost always begin to accumulate in the body (the same reaction occurs with alcohol abuse). If a woman consumes about 2 liters. water per day, the probability that she will wake up with swollen legs the next day will be almost 100%. In medicine, the formation of such edema is called “bacterial peritonitis,” when harmful microorganisms begin to multiply in the abdominal cavity.

Despite the fact that the disorder most often occurs almost unnoticed, doctors classify it as dangerous and recommend that patients be constantly monitored by their attending physician.

Symptoms at the last stage

If a woman ignored alcoholic cirrhosis and did not seek qualified help in time, it is almost impossible to eliminate this disease at the final stage. Modern medicines and drugs, regardless of the price category, are already proving powerless. Sure signs that the disease has reached the final stage are:

the appearance of vomiting blood. Over time, this reaction of the body will appear more and more often, accompanied by dizziness and faintness;
constantly elevated body temperature. In most cases, it is caused by the death of liver cells and general intoxication;
due to the fact that the diameter of the saphenous veins has increased several times, a woman may develop unusual “patterns” throughout her body. Such disturbances in the structure of the veins will also cause heavy bleeding over time;
the appearance of hypovitaminosis, leading to rapid weight loss.

Prevention and prognosis

To prevent cirrhosis, it is recommended to stop drinking alcoholic beverages. You should spend more time in the fresh air and maintain a balanced diet. The diet will help restore the balance of minerals and vitamins in the body. The diet is expanded by consuming protein foods. A healthy lifestyle will help avoid the development of the disease.

Having discovered liver disease, you should immediately begin treatment with hepatoprotective agents. The drugs restore the liver at the cellular level, localize inflammatory processes, normalize protein and lipid metabolism, and stop the development of scar tissue. Timely therapy will be an effective method of preventing cirrhosis.

Doctors cannot accurately predict the consequences of cirrhosis. How long a patient will live with illness will depend on various factors:

stage of damage;

rate of hepatocyte death;

age and gender of the patient;

the presence of concomitant diseases (hepatitis, diabetes, pancreatitis, etc.);

whether the patient refused to drink alcohol or not.

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During the compensated stage, the patient’s life can last up to 9–14 years, provided that the patient follows all the doctor’s recommendations and changes his lifestyle.

If the disease is noticed at the subcompensated stage, and the patient strictly adheres to taking medications, then there is a high probability of extending his life by 6 to 8 years (65%).

In the decompensated stage of alcoholic cirrhosis, the average life expectancy is 2–3 years. According to statistics, only 50% of patients with an advanced form of the disease are able to live another 5 to 7 years.

Alcoholic cirrhosis at the last terminal stage is the most dangerous stage of the disease. The longest life expectancy for a patient is 11–12 months. On average, patients with stage 4 alcoholic cirrhosis live no more than 3 months.

Diagnosis of the disease

To maintain health, the patient needs to seek help from a doctor as soon as possible. To make a diagnosis, the specialist will conduct not only a physical examination and history taking, but also palpation. The liver begins to change its structure already in the initial stages of the disease, so when palpating, the doctor will feel not only a thickening of the tissues, but also a sharpening of the shape of the liver. As for the sizes, they can be either increased or decreased. Experts note that during examination, patients almost always experience pain and discomfort, since the tissues of the organ are severely damaged.

If the doctor suspects the presence of cirrhosis, additional tests are prescribed. Biochemistry usually helps to make a specific diagnosis, since only it can reveal the transferase content.

Liver cirrhosis, its symptoms in women and its causes can manifest in different ways. But, in any case, a person begins to experience constant weakness and periodic discomfort in the right side, and it is necessary to immediately make an appointment with a doctor via the Internet.

What should a woman do if she experiences the symptoms described above?

Self-diagnosis and self-medication in the case of cirrhosis of the liver are especially ineffective. If a woman has been worried about weakness, decreased appetite, sudden weight loss and general malaise for some time, it makes sense to consult a therapist or immediately a gastroenterologist.

Only with timely diagnosis of the disease, as well as strict compliance with all the doctor’s requirements, can the patient count on the most favorable outcome, in which patients with cirrhosis live 20-25 years after the disease is identified at the initial stage.

At the same time, supervision by a specialized specialist is a mandatory requirement and must be carried out constantly. Periodic examinations and passing the necessary tests are a guarantee that any changes in the condition of the liver for the worse will be immediately detected and taken into account.

Today, it is impossible to cure a patient from cirrhosis. Drug therapy can only delay the onset of complications, slow down the process of cell degeneration, and compensate and smooth out the damage that the entire body suffers when the liver is damaged.