What Is Ascites?
3. What Is Liver Cirrhosis?
Liver cirrhosis or hepatic cirrhosis is a condition where there is long-term damage of the liver, which impairs its function. In this condition, scar tissue replaces normal liver tissue. It is a slow progressing condition that takes months or years to develop. There are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. As it worsens, patients may experience swelling in the lower limbs, tiredness, itchiness (pruritus), yellowing of the skin (jaundice), ascites, easy bruising, and the appearance of spider-like blood vessels on the skin.
It is most commonly caused by excessive chronic alcohol consumption. Other causes include hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In 2015, it was estimated to affect 2.8 million individuals resulting in 1.3 million deaths.
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