Does cirrhosis cause hemoptysis?

Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
Updated on June 06, 2025
00:00
00:00

Cirrhosis is a digestive system disease, commonly seen in hepatitis B cirrhosis, hepatitis C cirrhosis, or alcoholic cirrhosis. In the late stages of cirrhosis, many complications may occur, the most common being hepatic ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by cirrhosis entails vomiting blood rather than coughing up blood, which is generally seen in respiratory diseases such as bronchiectasis or tuberculosis, which are common causes of coughing up blood. Therefore, when there is a major episode of vomiting blood due to cirrhosis-induced upper gastrointestinal bleeding, it is urgent to go to the hospital for intravenous blood transfusion. If necessary, a gastroscopy should be performed, and during this procedure, a vascular ligation technique may be used for hemostasis in symptomatic treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ya Juan
Gastroenterology
2min 16sec home-news-image

Early symptoms of cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is generally divided into compensated and decompensated stages: The compensated stage is actually an early stage of liver cirrhosis. During this stage, most patients do not show symptoms, or they may experience some mild symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, etc. Decompensated stage: Early stages often present with fatigue and weakness, and later stages can include weight loss, loss of appetite, aversion to oily foods, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, fever, etc.; The liver is the only site of albumin synthesis, and during cirrhosis, reduced serum albumin can cause edema and ascites; the liver synthesizes most clotting factors, and cirrhosis can lead to coagulation disorders, clinically manifesting as gum bleeding, skin bruising, and nosebleeds; During cirrhosis, there can also be metabolic disorders of bilirubin and bile acids, leading to jaundice; Cirrhosis can also cause hormonal metabolic abnormalities, especially in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, who may exhibit many characteristics of male dysfunction, including impotence, erectile dysfunction, testicular atrophy, loss of body hair and muscle mass, feminization, etc. Female patients may experience cessation or reduction of menstruation, excessive menstruation, infertility, etc.; Both male and female patients can develop osteoporosis, leading to spontaneous fractures.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
55sec home-news-image

What are the gastrointestinal symptoms of cirrhosis?

In the early stages of cirrhosis, many patients do not exhibit any symptoms, but some may experience fatigue, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and indigestion. Some patients might also suffer from portal hypertensive gastropathy due to cirrhosis, leading to symptoms such as pain and bloating in the upper abdomen, acid reflux, and belching. If the disease progresses to the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, portal hypertension can cause varices in the esophagus and stomach, which may lead to severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding if hard food is consumed. Symptoms can include vomiting dark red blood or fresh blood, dizziness, fatigue, and cold sweats. In such cases, it is advised to seek immediate medical attention for emergency treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
51sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
44sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
50sec home-news-image

The difference between fatty liver and liver cirrhosis

Fatty liver is shown through ultrasound as having an increased and finely detailed echo in the liver, which is completely different from liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis is generally caused by the progression of chronic hepatitis, commonly seen in hepatitis B-related cirrhosis, hepatitis C-related cirrhosis, and alcoholic cirrhosis. Cirrhosis resulting from drug-induced liver damage or from severe fatty liver is relatively rare in clinical practice. Therefore, we should not panic. Once diagnosed with fatty liver, it can be reversed through proper diet and reasonable exercise, and its progression to liver cirrhosis can be prevented. So, everyone, there is no need to rush or panic.