2820 Mt. Rushmore Road
Rapid City, SD 57701
Cirrhosis is a by-product of advanced, late-stage liver diseases and conditions including hepatitis, chronic alcoholism, and more. Forming scar tissue in the liver over time, cirrhosis replaces healthy liver tissue with scar tissue, preventing the better function of the liver. Cirrhosis can lead to portal hypertension and can be fatal if not treated, as it causes irreversible damage to the liver in nearly all cases.
Like many liver-related diseases, cirrhosis often shows little to no symptoms in its early stages, but may include lack of appetite, nausea, fever, weight loss, weakness. In its later stages, cirrhosis often shows common symptoms such as bruising and bleeding, jaundice, ascites, discoloration in urine, memory loss, bloody stool, premature menopause, spider-like blood vessels and more.
As cirrhosis progresses in the body, it is also common to experience throbbing pain in the upper abdomen. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and have a history with liver diseases/conditions, please contact your physician immediately.
Cirrhosis may be diagnosed by a physician utilizing a variety of methods including blood testing, FibroScan, liver biopsies, upper endoscopies, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, physical exams and more.
A variety of options for treating the progression of cirrhosis in the body are available depending on the severity. For those with early-stage cirrhosis, changes in diet, alcohol consumption, exercise may minimize liver damage, while advanced-stage cirrhosis may require liver transplant surgery, treatment for portal hypertension, fluid drainage procedures and more.
In nearly all cases, the effects of cirrhosis on the liver are irreversible, making it a fatal hazard to the body if left untreated. Upon diagnosis, your doctor will identify a proper treatment plan to accommodate the advancement of cirrhosis in your body.
