Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Once you have been diagnosed with cirrhosis, you should talk to your doctor to find the best way to heal the damaged liver because the treatment will depend on the cause of the cirrhosis. On the other hand, you should also take some time to learn about other ways to treat cirrhosis. In addition, you should read other articles to know how to identify the symptoms of cirrhosis.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Lifestyle changes to treat cirrhosis

1. 

   Quit drinking alcohol. Whether the cause of cirrhosis is caused by drinking too much alcohol or not, you should quit this habit immediately because drinking alcohol causes the liver to work too hard, causing more damage and scarring of the liver.
   • Consuming coffee in moderation is believed to help slow cirrhosis. Therefore, you should consume coffee in moderation (no more than 1-2 cups per day).

2. 

   
   
   Limit your sodium intake. To prevent swelling (swelling) or ascites (buildup of fluid between your organs and the lining of your abdomen), choose foods that are low in or low in sodium. Keep in mind that high sodium intake can cause or worsen fluid retention, causing damaged liver to function more often than usual.
   • If you have been in the habit of consuming a lot of sodium (salt) for many years, you may initially experience a decrease in sodium intake as you decrease your sodium intake. In that case, you can further decorate the dish with healthy spices and herbs like garlic and pepper.

3. 

   
   
   Eat a healthy, balanced diet. The diet should include a variety of fruits and vegetables. Limit your intake of animal protein, but be sure to get enough protein from other sources such as beans, quinoa and tofu.
   • It is very important to limit the intake of animal protein, especially if you are at risk of brain disease as animal protein can increase the risk of problems with mental function.
   • Get enough carbohydrates. When the liver is damaged, it cannot build up glycogen, so doctors often recommend that patients eat a carbohydrate-rich snack between meals. Great carbohydrate-boosting snacks include cookies, cereals, pastries, fruits and milk.

4. 

   
   
   Start a regular exercise program. Cirrhosis patients need regular exercise to avoid wasting muscle tissue - a condition that occurs when the liver is damaged. This step is especially important for overweight people. You should exercise at least 3 times per week for at least 30 minutes per day.
   • Good exercises for people with cirrhosis include brisk walking, swimming, and cycling.

5. 

   Avoid using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Medicines such as ibuprofen and aspirin are used to treat mild to moderate pain and inflammation. Although helpful in treating headaches, taken in high doses or combined with alcohol-containing foods can cause liver toxicity. Once the liver has been damaged, in this case cirrhosis, you should avoid taking NSAIDs as they can cause liver failure.
   • Check with your doctor before taking any medications such as Tylenol, Aspirin and other pain relievers. If you are unsure whether the drug is safe or not, it's best to see your doctor for advice. Using drugs in the wrong way can be life-threatening, so be cautious.
   advertisement

Method 2 of 3: Protect yourself from infection

1. 

   Realize that you are more susceptible to infections. If you have cirrhosis, your immune system is also damaged. As a result, you will be more susceptible to infection, infection, and once infected, your body will be affected more severely than others.

2. 

   Protect yourself from infection. When your immune system is suppressed, you need to take proactive steps to protect yourself from infection.
   • Wash your hands often. Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Wash your hands under clean running water and soap, rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds and wash thoroughly with soap.
   • Take a multivitamin. Ask your doctor about a multivitamin for your needs, as multivitamins can support the immune system.
   • Avoid crowded areas. In crowded places, you are at increased risk of physical contact with sick people. If you do have to go in public, try to limit your physical contact, not touch your face, eyes or mouth, and wash your hands often.
   • Stay away from sick people. If a co-worker, friend or relative is sick, you should avoid contact with them so that you don't come into contact with the bacteria from coughing or sneezing. If you can't avoid it, try to limit your physical contact.

3. 

   Immunizations. Patients with cirrhosis need to be vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. The vaccine is made from the inactivated hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses, which help the immune system produce antibodies against the- withdrawal of hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
   • Twinrix is ​​a combination vaccine that protects against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
   • There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C.
   advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Medical treatment of cirrhosis

1. 

   Consult your doctor. Cirrhosis of the liver needs to be treated. However, you should not take the medication on your own without consulting your doctor.
   • The medication prescribed by your doctor will depend on the specific cause of the liver damage.

2. 

   Take immunosuppressants. The immune system needs to be suppressed with corticosteroids to help reduce hepatitis. Corticosteroids include Prednisolone, which can be given once a day at a dose of 5 mg. Your doctor may increase the dose up to 20 mg per day.

3. 

   Taking medication to relieve various symptoms in the early stages of cirrhosis. If cirrhosis is detected early, you can treat the cause of the liver damage instead of treating the cirrhosis. Once the cause has been eliminated, the cirrhosis will go away on its own.
   • Diuretics are often prescribed to treat fluid build-up.
   • Vitamin K is also used to treat bleeding problems.

4. 

   Monitor the concentration of fluid in the body. Your doctor may order an ultrasound or CT scan to confirm the diagnosis. If you have problems with fluid build-up due to edema or ascites, your doctor may drain the fluid to relieve the pressure. Peritoneal fluid aspiration is usually done by inserting a needle into the abdomen to release fluid.

5. 

   Take preventive drugs for liver and brain disease. If cirrhosis is developing, your doctor may prescribe medications that help prevent toxins from building up in the blood. Normally, the liver will perform this function, but when damaged, the liver is not able to filter toxins.

6. 

   Receive periodic blood tests. To monitor liver health and check for liver cancer growth, your doctor may recommend regular blood tests. The following blood tests will be performed to check liver function and detect hepatitis:
   • The assay measures the concentration of Albumin and total serum protein. Cirrhosis of the liver can lead to a decrease in the concentration of Albumin - a protein in the blood
   • The test measures partial thromboplastin time (PTT) or prothrombin time / INR. The purpose of this test is to identify clotting factors produced by the liver.
   • Bilirubin test. Bilirubin is produced when the liver breaks down hemoglobin - the hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood. Cirrhosis of the liver can lead to increased levels of Bilirubin, causing jaundice.
   • Your doctor may also order Ammonium levels to check for hepatic encephalopathy or brain function loss due to the inability of the liver to remove toxins. This is a serious illness and the patient needs to be hospitalized immediately.
   • Increased levels of enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the blood (if any) may indicate liver damage and liver cells are dying.
   • An excess of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (if present) could indicate that the bile ducts in the liver are blocked.
   • An increase in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels (if any) may indicate a bile duct problem.

7. 

   Reception of a liver transplant. In extreme cases, the only treatment is a liver transplant. However, to be eligible for a liver transplant, you need additional tests (e.g. MELD scores) to make sure you're healthy enough for a liver transplant, making sure you can and are willing to avoid activities, like drinking, for a certain period of time. advertisement

Advice

• In the US, alcohol addiction is the leading cause of cirrhosis. Although it is not possible to completely avoid cirrhosis, quitting alcohol can help reduce the liver's workload and slow the cirrhosis process.

Warning

• Before making any lifestyle changes, starting an exercise program, starting or stopping medication, you need to talk to your doctor first. Different people will need a different treatment plan.
• Seek help if you are having trouble quitting drinking. Alcoholism can be harmful to health and relationships, and even deadly. So you need to seek help before it's too late.