SCRIPT NUMBER 120
CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER - 2
(TWO SPEAKERS)
PROGRAM NAME: HEALTH NUGGETS
PROGRAM TITLE: CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER - 2
PROGRAM NUMBER: 120
SUBJECT: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, PREVENTION OF
CIRRHOSIS
KEY WORDS: HEPATITIS B, HEPATITIS C, CYTSIC FIBROSIS,
TRANSPLANT, CONDOM
DATE OF SCRIPT: July 12, 2013
AUTHOR: RICHARD YUKL, MD, FACS
SPEAKER 1:
Ludek is a 38-year-old man currently living in the Czech
Republic. He found a bottle of vodka in a shoebox hidden in his mother’s closet
when he was age 12. He sipped some and liked its taste. He made more and
more frequent visits to his mother’s closet over several years, and then began
buying alcoholic beverages with his own money, hiding his developing addiction
from his parents. By age 18, Ludek was drinking three or more alcoholic
beverages every day.
SPEAKER 2:
Ludek began noticing physical changes a few years ago that
worried him. His skin became itchy. He gradually lost his appetite and began
losing weight. Recently, the whites of his eyes began to turn yellow. He consulted
a doctor, who identified that Ludek has developed cirrhosis of the liver.
SPEAKER 1:
Today, we want to talk about cirrhosis. What exactly is
cirrhosis?
SPEAKER 2:
Cirrhosis is irreversible scarring of the liver most often
caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over many years. It is the third
leading cause of death in adults between the ages of 45 and 65.
The liver performs essential functions such as making chemicals that our body
uses to destroy harmful substances entering our body. The liver also purifies our
blood, and processes the nutrients from our diet that allow our bodies to function
normally – things such as the proteins we eat.
SPEAKER 1:
What causes cirrhosis?
SPEAKER 2:
The specific cause of the scarring is chronic irritation. If the
irritation is mild, the liver can repair itself and return to normal function, but as the
irritation continues, more and more scar tissue forms, finally making it impossible
for the liver to ever function normally again.
SPEAKER 1:
What causes the scarring?
SPEAKER 2:
Several conditions can irritate the liver severely enough to
cause scarring. Infection by viruses such as Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C can cause
the damage. Some genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis can destroy the
liver. Gallstones can obstruct the ducts that carry bile from the liver into the
bowel, and destroy the liver. By far, however, the most common cause is the
excessive drinking of alcohol.
SPEAKER 1:
Tell me the symptoms I will experience if I develop cirrhosis.
SPEAKER 2:
There may be no symptoms until liver damage is already
severe. When symptoms do appear, you may experience extreme tiredness.
Often, you will develop easy bruising and bleeding, and a loss of appetite with
nausea and weight loss. Your body will have trouble fighting infections, so you
may develop infections frequently. The most distressing symptom will be the
accumulation of fluid in your legs and belly. Scar tissue makes it difficult for blood
to flow freely through your liver, and the increased pressure that is required can
cause the fluid portion of the blood to leak out of the vessels, collect in your legs
and belly, and make your belly look pregnant.
Untreated, the liver damage of cirrhosis will gradually worsen, finally causing
health problems that are life threatening. As an example, the high blood vessel
pressure that a scarred liver generates can cause blood vessels in the stomach
and esophagus to burst, resulting in life threatening bleeding.
SPEAKER 1:
How is cirrhosis treated?
SPEAKER 2:
If you are suffering mild symptoms, as does Ludek,
treatment is aimed at minimizing the liver damage that has already occurred. You
must stop drinking alcohol immediately. That is not an easy task, and your doctor
may recommend an effective treatment program located in your local area. The
fluid that is collecting in your legs and belly, if not severe, can be managed with a
low-salt diet and with water pills that help to eliminate fluids. Large amounts of
fluid collected within your belly may require a doctor to drain it using a needle
placed through your belly wall. A surgeon may also be able to place a tube into
blood vessels being narrowed by a scarred liver, widening them to allow better
blood flow through the narrowing. These extreme treatments are all helpful, but
only if you can successfully stop drinking alcohol.
SPEAKER 1:
What if my symptoms are severe?
SPEAKER 2:
You want to avoid progression of cirrhosis to an advanced
stage at all costs. Once cirrhosis is severe, your liver will not be able to recover.
Because your liver is no longer able to clear poisons and harmful substances
from your blood, you will begin having difficulty thinking clearly, become ever
more confused, and finally develop a coma from which you cannot recover
unless you undergo heroic therapy such as a liver transplant.
SPEAKER 1:
If I am presently healthy but at risk of developing cirrhosis,
how can I prevent developing the disease?
SPEAKER 2:
Don’t drink alcohol. If you feel you must drink, drink no more
than one alcoholic beverage a day. Also, limit the amount of fatty and fried foods
you eat, as excess fat is stored in your liver, causing damage. Instead, eat a
plant-based diet containing lots of raw fruits and vegetables. Fruits and
vegetables contain the vitamins and minerals that your body needs.
SPEAKER 1:
Will anything else help?
SPEAKER 2:
Limit your risk of a virus infection of your liver. Your liver can
become infected with viruses such as Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C when you share
dirty needles to inject street drugs, and by having sex with someone who is
infected. If you use street drugs, at least use a clean needle that you purchased
yourself. If you cannot abstain from having casual sex, protect yourself by using
a condom. These wise lifestyle choices will go a long way in protecting you
against this deadly condition.
SPEAKER 1:
Health Nuggets is written by Dr. Richard Yukl, a medical
doctor working in the United States. The medical views expressed in this
program are his and may differ for your particular health needs. If you need
medical advice, please consult a medical professional in your area.