Subscribe
Cirrhosis
What foods are good for cirrhosis?
The usual diet plays a crucial role for patients with cirrhosis, and it has been confirmed that nutritional therapy is very important for reducing mortality and disability rates in patients with cirrhosis. Generally speaking, easily digestible, high-vitamin nutritional foods should be the main source of food, alcohol must be strictly prohibited, and consumption of vegetables and fruits should be increased. Salt intake can be controlled, and adjustments should be made according to different changes in the condition. Another point to note is that patients with esophageal and gastric varices must avoid consuming hard and rough food, as this could lead to rupture of the varices and cause severe bleeding.
Can people with cirrhosis eat watermelon?
Patients with cirrhosis can eat watermelon, as it is typically consumed raw. Therefore, it is important to ensure cleanliness when eating watermelon, and one should chew slowly and thoroughly without overeating. Eating a moderate amount, preferably once or twice a week, is advisable. The dietary principle for patients with cirrhosis should focus on light and easily digestible foods, avoiding rough and hard textures. It is also crucial to avoid greasy, spicy, and irritating foods, and alcohol consumption must be strictly avoided. Hygiene in diet is important, and a high-protein diet is advisable. Regular, moderate exercise is recommended, but patients should not overexert themselves and should ensure sufficient rest.
Will early portal hypertension from cirrhosis get better?
As for whether early portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis can improve, it depends on the cause of the liver cirrhosis and the effectiveness of the treatment for liver cirrhosis. If the liver cirrhosis is caused by viral hepatitis, then with proactive antiviral treatment, the early stage of liver cirrhosis might be reversible to some extent, and the portal hypertension might also be treatable. If it is due to some difficult-to-treat causes of liver cirrhosis, then the patient’s portal hypertension is likely hard to improve. For example, in cases of early liver cirrhosis caused by autoimmune liver disease, the liver cirrhosis will progressively worsen, and at this point, the portal hypertension cannot improve. Once portal hypertension occurs, it is necessary to regularly perform gastroscopy examinations.
Why is the liver enlarged in the early stages of cirrhosis?
In the early stages of cirrhosis, it is generally characterized by an enlarged liver and spleen. If it progresses to the middle and late stages, reaching the decompensated phase, the liver will significantly decrease in size, while the spleen will continue to enlarge. In the early stages of cirrhosis, timely treatment is essential. Identifying the cause of cirrhosis and then actively treating it is crucial to prevent the condition from worsening or causing complications. If early-stage cirrhosis is not treated promptly and progresses, the decompensated stage of cirrhosis may lead to complications such as ascites, lower limb edema, severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding, jaundice, and may even progress to liver cancer. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are very important.
Does early-stage cirrhosis cause itchy skin?
Generally, early-stage cirrhosis does not cause itchy skin. However, if a patient with cirrhosis has a high jaundice index, or the cirrhosis is caused by bile stasis or primary sclerosing cholangitis, itchy skin might occur. Once a patient with cirrhosis experiences itchy skin, it is recommended to complete relevant auxiliary examinations, such as liver function tests, routine blood tests, gastroscopy, and abdominal ultrasound, to determine the extent of the cirrhosis and actively identify the causes of the cirrhosis and itchy skin, to promptly treat the condition based on the underlying causes.
Does portal vein widen in the early stages of cirrhosis?
Patients with early-stage cirrhosis may also experience an enlargement of the portal vein. At this time, patients will need to complete related auxiliary examinations, such as electronic gastroscopy and abdominal color ultrasound, to rule out other complications caused by cirrhosis, such as esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding, or ascites associated with cirrhosis. It is crucial for early-stage cirrhosis patients to identify the cause as soon as possible and undergo etiological treatment, which sometimes can be very effective. For alcohol-related cirrhosis, abstaining from alcohol is necessary. If the cause is viral, such as chronic hepatitis B, antiviral treatments like entecavir are required. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Does early-stage cirrhosis exhibit spleen enlargement?
In the early stages of cirrhosis, spleen enlargement may occur, but generally, it is only a mild enlargement of the spleen. If the spleen shows significant enlargement, it generally indicates that the cirrhosis is no longer in the early stages. The main symptoms in the early stages of cirrhosis include an enlarged spleen, as well as denser liver parenchyma echoes and an uneven liver capsule surface. Once these early signs of cirrhosis appear, it is necessary to identify the cause as soon as possible and adopt cause-specific treatment. For example, if the cirrhosis is due to alcohol abuse, then it is necessary to abstain from alcohol. If it is due to chronic hepatitis B virus infection, antiviral treatments such as entecavir should be used. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can the liver regrow after partial removal due to cirrhosis?
First, let us understand the causes of cirrhosis. The most common cause is chronic hepatitis B, which can develop into hepatitis B-related cirrhosis over time. The second is chronic hepatitis C, which can also lead to hepatitis C and cirrhosis in the long term. Another type is alcoholic cirrhosis, which occurs due to long-term excessive alcohol consumption. Cirrhosis involves the hardening of the entire liver, not just parts of it; the whole organ becomes hardened, not just certain sections. Once the entire liver is hardened due to cirrhosis, it is not possible to just remove a part and expect a normal liver to grow back. Thus, unlike what might be suggested in some discussions, it is not feasible to remove a part of a cirrhotic liver with the expectation of regeneration. Liver cirrhosis cannot be partially removed; it is not operable in this way.
What stage is cirrhosis vomiting blood?
When patients with cirrhosis experience vomiting blood, it generally indicates that the cirrhosis has entered the decompensated phase, which is a late-stage symptom of cirrhosis. The main reason for vomiting blood may likely be that the cirrhosis has caused a peptic ulcer, or rupture and bleeding of esophageal and gastric varices due to cirrhosis, or bleeding caused by portal hypertensive gastropathy resulting from cirrhosis. If vomiting blood occurs with cirrhosis, the amount of bleeding is generally very large. At this time, it is necessary to go to the hospital as soon as possible for a complete gastroscopy. When necessary, endoscopic treatment may be needed to stop the bleeding.
Can abnormal liver function and nosebleeds indicate liver cirrhosis?
Abnormal liver function accompanied by nosebleeds does not necessarily indicate cirrhosis. Nosebleeds in patients with abnormal liver function can be due to acute hepatitis leading to liver failure and decreased coagulation function. Of course, in patients with cirrhosis, a significant decline in coagulation function may also result in nosebleeds. Therefore, patients experiencing nosebleeds due to abnormal liver function should actively seek medical attention. It is important to complete liver function tests and coagulation assays, as well as comprehensive abdominal imaging examinations, such as CT scans, ultrasonography, and MRI, to assess the condition of the patient. Based on these assessments, appropriate medical treatment should be administered.