Cirrhosis is a medical condition characterized by liver scarring due to chronic liver disease. Scar tissues impede the healthy flow of blood and bile through the liver, stopping this organ work optimally.
The liver is the human body’s largest internal organ, responsible for performing a long list of vital processes. It detoxifies the blood by neutralizing toxins, including disease-causing germs, poisons, viruses, and bacteria in the blood. Its neutralizing effects play a crucial role in preventing and managing infection. In addition, the liver produces proteins that control the body’s clotting abilities. Finally, it produces bile that enables the body to absorb fats and other fat-soluble vitamins that the body requires.
Individuals with cirrhosis are usually asymptomatic until the liver arrives at its decompensation stage. When clinical signs and symptoms appear, further evaluation is imperative. The most common causes of liver cirrhosis include chronic alcoholism, viral hepatitis, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Initial diagnostic procedures for individuals suspected of liver cirrhosis include abdominal ultrasound, complete blood count, liver function tests, and many more. New research reveals that the early stages of cirrhosis are reversible with the proper treatment regimen.
Alcohol Dependency Treatment
Individuals with cirrhosis caused by chronic alcoholism should cease alcohol intake as the liver will further deteriorate with continuous alcohol consumption. Alcohol will overburden the liver, resulting in more symptoms over time.
However, if alcohol cessation proves challenging to the patient, their physician may recommend enrolling in a treatment program to resolve alcohol addiction permanently. A wide range of psychological and pharmacological measures are available for patients with cirrhosis; the majority are equally effective in increasing the chances of abstinence and reducing alcohol intake.
Psychological treatments are designed to develop the discipline to avoid drinking, curb cravings, and succeed in reducing alcohol drinking. Psychological therapies include self-monitoring, increasing awareness of high-risk situations, and cognitive and behavioral techniques to cope with alcohol exposure. There are also alcohol dependency interventions that involve the loved ones of patients with cirrhosis, including family therapy, mutual support groups, and mindfulness exercises.
