- Alcohol cirrhosis is the most threatening type of liver disease
- Before reaching the point of being diagnosed with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, the disease will most likely begin with a fatty liver before progressing to alcoholic hepatitis
- Without alcohol, life expectancy may be prolonged and health in general would possibly improve
- Milk thistle herb will strengthen the liver while protecting the cells from toxins
- For several years, Europeans have used milk thistle to protect livers from alcohol effects. It is officially accepted in Germany to use milk thistle for treatment of alcoholic induced cirrhosis and liver damage, chronic and acute viral hepatitis, and a fatty liver
Alcohol is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis. Alcohol cirrhosis is the most threatening type of liver disease. When suffering from liver cirrhosis, new liver cells cannot be regenerated since the liver is damaged by scar tissue. This disease can develop after 10 or so years of excessively drinking. A male is considered to be a heavy drinker if he consumes 5 or more drinks per day. At 3 or more drinks per day, a woman is considered to be a heavy drinker.
An individual who has cirrhosis will have scar tissue preventing the liver from properly functioning. In this case, the liver will have a lack of clotting factors and may cause bleeding and bruising. Before reaching the point of being diagnosed with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, the disease will most likely begin with a fatty liver before progressing to alcoholic hepatitis.
Several symptoms and complications are involved when suspecting liver cirrhosis. However, the liver is extensively damaged before suffering with conditions like leg edema, excessive abdominal fluid, fatigue, jaundice, itching, nosebleeds, redness of palms, spider angiomas, easy bruising, weight loss, abdominal pain, frequent infections and confusion. Other complications include bleeding from the esophagus, an enlarged spleen, high blood pressure in the liver, mental status changes, kidney failure, and even liver cancer.
Patients with cirrhosis have enlarged livers. A doctor will feel an enlarged liver just below the right rib cage. The spleen, which may also be enlarged, will be palpated below the left rib cage. A diseased liver will feel firmer and distinctively different than a normal liver. Alcohol induced liver cirrhosis is also diagnosed by a panel of blood tests as well as imaging scans which may include a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound. These tests will diagnosis the disease as well as rule out other causes of the liver condition. A liver biopsy will give the final and most definitive result.
Obviously, one of the treatments for liver cirrhosis induced by alcohol is to stop drinking alcohol. Without alcohol, life expectancy may be prolonged and health in general would possibly improve. Medications may be needed for complications initiated from liver damage. In further developed cases, the only means of survival would be a liver transplant.
For any possible recovery from liver damage, doctors may possibly suggest to change diet plan
along with various vitamin supplements which may include liver support supplements. The milk thistle herb is known to promote liver health by stabilizing and guarding the cell membranes. This liver support supplement will repair damaged cells while it creates new ones where needed. Milk thistle herb will strengthen the liver while protecting the cells from toxins. A mild laxative effect is sometimes experienced from taking milk thistle. Liver energy may be restored from the antidepressant effect of taking this herb. For several years, Europeans have used milk thistle to protect livers from alcohol effects. It is officially accepted in Germany to use milk thistle for treatment of alcoholic induced cirrhosis and liver damage, chronic and acute viral hepatitis, and a fatty liver.
Research is continuously being done to study the management and prevention of liver cirrhosis and other liver diseases. These studies are aimed at determining the process of scar formation in the liver and how the formation progress can be stopped and reversed. Although the milk thistle herb has positive results, researchers continue to seek further treatments for liver cirrhosis and other diseases of the liver.
I had an aunt who dies of this and had we known then about things like looking for fatty liver and taking milk thistle back then, she may still be alive today.
I remember seeing a liver that was affected by cirrhosis as a teen in science class. This was really a sobering sight and if more young people could see what they were doing to their live it might help them think twice about drinking.
More people need to read this article and learn about this nasty liver condition. It’s not fun and it’s terrible to watch someone die from it.