Causes and Effects of Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cirrhosis is a severe form of liver disease, often resulting from alcoholism or hepatitis. Someone suffering from cirrhosis of the liver should seek treatment to avoid permanent liver damage.
Transcript: Causes and Effects of Cirrhosis of the Liver
What Does the Liver Do?
The liver is an organ located in the upper right side of the abdomen and it is part of the digestive system. It performs several life-sustaining functions: it processes nutrients, produces proteins, stores sugar or glycogen, and it also controls the body's hormone levels, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and fluid retention. The liver filters unwanted substances and helps the body fight infection.What Is Cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is a chronic, progressive liver disease that prevents the liver from functioning normally.What Causes Cirrhosis?
This disease is most often caused by chronic alcoholism, but can also be caused by hepatitis infection and other illnesses.Long-Term Effects of Cirrhosis
Damage to the liver from alcoholism or illness causes scar tissue to develop in the healthy liver tissue. Scar tissue prevents blood from flowing through the liver, preventing it from functioning properly. If the underlying cause of cirrhosis continues, for example, if a person with alcoholism continues to drink alcohol, cirrhosis will progress and liver function will diminish.Treating Cirrhosis
Even if the cause of cirrhosis is corrected, the damage to the liver cannot be repaired or reversed.Copyrighted animations provided by Blausen Medical.
