What causes liver cirrhosis?

Long-term inflammation or injury activates repair cells in the liver. As the injury continues, bands of scar tissue can interrupt the liver's normal structure and blood flow. Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C are recognised causes. Alcohol-related injury, fatty liver disease linked with metabolic problems, autoimmune liver disease, inherited conditions, and some medicines can also lead to cirrhosis.

Early cirrhosis may cause few noticeable symptoms. Later, reduced liver function or altered blood flow can contribute to tiredness, easy bruising, swelling in the legs or abdomen, itching, yellow skin, or confusion. The cause and stage need medical assessment rather than symptom interpretation alone.

A clinician can investigate the cause with a medical history, examination, blood tests, viral testing, and liver imaging. Sometimes elastography or another assessment of liver stiffness is used. Treatment focuses on stopping or controlling the injury, such as managing hepatitis, improving metabolic health, avoiding harmful alcohol use, or reviewing medicines.

Do not begin supplements marketed for liver cleansing without checking first. Keep appointments even when you feel well, because monitoring can identify complications before they become obvious.

Get urgent help for vomiting blood, black stools, new confusion, severe drowsiness, fainting, fever with abdominal pain, or rapidly worsening jaundice or swelling. These may indicate bleeding, infection, or loss of liver function.

What is causing my liver injury? How advanced is the scarring? Which treatments can slow further damage? Do I need monitoring for liver cancer, bleeding, or fluid buildup?