Liver Scar Progression And Ways to Prevent It

Cirrhosis or liver scarring is a condition that sprouts of long-term replacement of the healthy liver tissue with scar tissues. This scar tissue obstructs the regular flow of blood through the liver and prevents the organ from properly performing its functions.

If the studies and surveys of National Institute of Health are any evidence, you can safely commit to memory that cirrhosis stands at the twelfth position in the list of death causing diseases.

It is crucial for you to maintain a strict stance if you suffer from cirrhosis of any degree. Damage like this once done to your liver can not be taken back. And hence, it is important that you take steps to stop the liver scarring from worsening any further.

What Is a Liver Scar?

When your liver is exposed to harmful elements (like too much alcohol), or you’re already suffering from a condition (like the fatty liver disease, Hepatitis C, diabetes, etc.), it gets inflamed. It often happens that the continuous inflammation leads to healthy liver tissue getting replaced by scar tissue.

A liver has regenerative powers. It can deal with bad cells, dispose of them, and replace them with healthy ones. But when the pace of scarring is faster than what the liver can handle, the condition is named fibrosis (or mild scarring.)

Persistent fibrosis ends up becoming cirrhosis. It is a highly degenerative point and is impossible to reverse. Your only option in extreme cirrhosis is to get a liver transplant.

• What Causes Liver Scarring?
• Fatty liver diseases or excess accumulation of fats in the liver cells.
• Alcohol consumption at an alarming rate.
• Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection.
• Exposure to harmful chemicals via food.
• Bile duct blockage.
• Autoimmune hepatitis.
• Inherited diseases like hemochromatosis, cystic fibrosis, Wilson’s disease, etc.
• Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency.
• Fluid backed up liver caused by heart failure instances.

How to Slow Down Liver Scarring?

Adopting a more particular, more monitored lifestyle and eating-drinking habits is the primary prevention approach for decreasing the speed of liver scarring. The following efforts can help in attaining the same.

Before anything, ask your doctor just how much alcohol you are allowed in a week. Then, ensure that you follow the set limits.

Alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of cirrhosis, and hence, it is very crucial to limit its usage or abdicate until stated otherwise by your medical counsellors.

Too much fat in the liver cells can cause their inflammation, which will eventually lead to severe scarring. It is best for you to maintain a healthy weight.

They contain more fats than you need. They can also contain toxic chemicals that will only force your liver to work in overload mode.

Coffee is good for your liver as long as it contains very reduced amounts of sugar and absolutely no cream. Moderate your sugar content on a daily basis too. Too much of it can cause your liver cells to inflame and thus result in fibrosis.

Make sure that you are protected against it.