How to Identify Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a liver disease and it causes permanent scarring of the liver. This disease makes it very difficult for the liver to perform basic functions. Cirrhosis normally progresses slowly and a person is often able to control the symptoms with the proper treatment method and medical attention. If left untreated, cirrhosis can lead to severe liver damage and even death. So, it is very important to find out if you have this serious illness. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do in order to identify this disease.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Physical examination
• Liver blood tests
• Ultrasound and other appropriate tests

1. Determine if you have any of the risk factors for cirrhosis. The most common risk factors for cirrhosis includes excessive and prolonged alcohol consumption, a current hepatitis infection, history of intravenous drug usage and abuse, accumulation of toxic metals in the liver (such as iron and copper) and fat in the liver cells.

2. Verify whether or not you have any of the common symptoms of cirrhosis. People who have cirrhosis usually have symptoms such as fatigue, lack of appetite, weight loss, nausea, bruising easily, swelling in the hands and feet, itching on the body, mental confusion, dark colored urine and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the white parts of your eyes). Be sure to write down all of your symptoms, how long you’ve had them and the severity of the symptoms.

3. Call your doctor for an appointment. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed in the above step, make sure that you call your medical doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor needs to examine you and give you certain tests in order to properly identify the cirrhosis.

4. Meet with your doctor to discuss your symptoms. Your doctor asks you questions about your symptoms, medical history and current health status. Be sure to be honest with your doctor and answer all of her questions.

5. Complete the required medical tests. Your doctor gives you a physical examination and he may also give you a variety of tests, such as liver blood tests, an ultrasound, Bilirubin test, CT scan (computerized tomography) and a MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). However, you may have to schedule additional doctor appointments in order to complete some of these tests.

6. Discuss your test results with your doctor. Your doctor informs you when all of your test results are in and you can return to your doctor’s office to discuss the results with her. She confirms that you have cirrhosis and talks to you about treatment options.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have cirrhosis (or symptoms of this disease) avoid using alcohol or any products that may harm the liver.

Resources

• Visit MayoClinic.com for helpful tips on how to identify cirrhosis.
• Visit MedicineNet.com for more information on how to identify cirrhosis.

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