Cirrhosis is a condition where scarring forms in the liver over a long period due to chronic liver disease or repeated injury. As the liver attempts to repair itself, collagen and other proteins accumulate in cells, forming scar tissue and altering the liver's structure, making it difficult for the organ to function normally.

Cirrhosis often progresses slowly and does not cause symptoms in its early stages. As the disease advances, individuals commonly experience fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, unintentional weight loss, itching, jaundice, easy bruising, and bleeding. Here are some factors that can cause cirrhosis.

Liver diseases

If you suffer from conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic hepatitis, or viral hepatitis, your risk of developing cirrhosis is higher than normal. These conditions cause fat accumulation and damage to liver cells, eventually leading to chronic inflammation and the formation of scar tissue.

Autoimmune hepatitis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks liver cells, causing prolonged inflammation and contributing to fibrosis. Additionally, hemochromatosis, a condition that leads to iron accumulation in the liver, can also cause damage and result in cirrhosis if not managed.

Excessive alcohol consumption

Prolonged heavy alcohol consumption can damage the liver, increasing the risk of cirrhosis. The process by which the liver metabolizes alcohol often produces acetaldehyde, a substance that causes inflammation and destroys liver cells. Continuously damaged liver cells lead to chronic hepatitis. The dead liver cells are replaced by scar tissue (fibrosis), causing the liver to lose its detoxification function.

Unprescribed medication use

Long-term or overdose use of certain medications, including blood pressure medication, painkillers, antidepressants, or some antibiotics, can weaken the immune system and damage the liver. Adults should use medication as prescribed by a doctor and avoid self-medicating without a diagnosed cause for their illness.

Smoking, exposure to toxins

Individuals with liver diseases such as hepatitis or fatty liver disease have a higher risk of developing cirrhosis if they smoke. The toxic substances in cigarette smoke can increase inflammatory responses, promote liver damage, and accelerate disease progression over time.

Prolonged exposure to certain environmental toxins like lead, cadmium, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) also contributes to liver fibrosis, increasing the risk of developing cirrhosis.

Obesity

Obesity increases the risk of cirrhosis in several ways: abdominal fat releases free fatty acids into the bloodstream, which the liver cannot fully metabolize, leading to excessive fat accumulation and direct damage to the liver's structure. Overweight individuals often experience insulin resistance and metabolic disorders of sugar and fat, which worsen liver inflammation, eventually leading to liver dysfunction due to fibrosis.

By Anh Chi (According to Health, WebMD)