How to Prevent Liver Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis of the liver is the end stage for a variety of liver diseases. The term cirrhosis is a symptom that refers to the orange or tawny color of a diseased liver and is not a specific disease in itself. Although it is most closely associated with alcoholism, the most common cause of liver cirrhosis in the United States is now hepatitis. Here's how to prevent liver cirrhosis.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Limit your alcohol intake to reduce the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis. Consuming more than two drinks per day increases the chances of cirrhosis.

2. Get a vaccination against Hepatitis B. This is a significant cause of cirrhosis and the only common form of hepatitis with a vaccine.

3. Minimize the risk of contracting hepatitis C by avoiding high-risk sexual behavior. This includes unprotected sex and multiple partners. Do not use nasal cocaine or share needles with other drug users. Half of the cases of hepatitis C are contracted from contaminated drug paraphernalia.

4. Use caution when using chemicals. Cleaning products and pesticides can be a significant source of chemically-induced cirrhosis. Wear protective clothing and a face mask if handling chemicals often.

5. Address the underlying causes of cirrhosis. Existing cirrhosis is usually irreversible but further damage can be minimized. For example, Wilson's disease causes the build-up of copper in the liver and requires lifelong chelation therapy.

Resources

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