These signs indicate that your liver is becoming cirrhotic

Hepatic cirrhosis is a common chronic progressive liver disease in clinical practice, which is diffuse liver damage caused by long-term or repeated effects of one or more causes. In the past, everyone believed that cirrhosis was a disease that only middle-aged and elderly people would get, but in fact, more and more young people are also being diagnosed with cirrhosis.

Symptoms of early liver cirrhosis

Thin, dark face

More than one-third of patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis have darker skin on their face and around their eyes than before the disease, their faces are thin and withered, there are dilated small blood vessels in their cheeks, and their lips are dry. This is the "liver disease face." This is due to decreased liver function, which leads to increased melanin production.

Breast swelling and testicular shrinkage

The liver plays an important role in the balance of sex hormones in the human blood. Because estrogen increases and androgen decreases during cirrhosis, men may experience enlarged and tender breasts and testicular atrophy. For women, sex hormone disorders during cirrhosis can also cause menstrual disorders, breast shrinkage, and sparse pubic hair.

Spider nevus, cinnabar palm

Patients with cirrhosis often have some dilated skin arterioles on the face, neck, chest, shoulders, forearms and backs of hands. They are surrounded by tiny branches radiating outward like tree branches. They look like small spiders and are bright red in color. Pressing the center point of the mole with the tip of a pen, a pin or the end of a thin stick can make the mole and its surrounding branches disappear. This is a spider nevus. This is also due to decreased liver function.

The appearance of spider nevi can serve as a sign of chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis to a certain extent, but it is not specific. About 40% of normal women may also have spider nevi during menstruation or pregnancy. In addition, spider nevi may also be seen in people who are exposed to wind and sun, drink alcohol frequently, are deficient in vitamin B, have rheumatoid arthritis, and a few healthy people.

The symptom with the same mechanism as spider nevus is liver palm, which refers to the redness of the two sides of the palm connecting the thumb and little finger (thenar and hypothenar). If you look closely, you can see many red spots, some are plaque-like, and the red and white are irregular. If local pressure is applied, it will turn pale and return to its original state after relaxation. Sometimes patients also experience these changes on the soles of their feet. Because of its red color, it is also called "Cinnabar Palm".

Yellow eyes and skin

The patient's sclera (white of the eyes) or skin turns yellow, which is medically known as jaundice. More than half of patients with cirrhosis may experience this sign, which is generally mild. This is because bile cannot be excreted normally during cirrhosis, resulting in an increase in bilirubin in the blood. If jaundice suddenly increases or reappears, it indicates damage to liver cells and should be taken seriously.

Bleeding spots, low-grade fever

Patients with cirrhosis often have a tendency to bleed and may experience recurrent nosebleeds, bleeding gums when brushing their teeth, bleeding spots or bruises on the skin, and in severe cases, hematomas. This is the result of multiple reasons, including the reduced liver function in synthesizing various coagulation factors and thrombin during cirrhosis, and thrombocytopenia caused by hypersplenism.

How to prevent liver cirrhosis

1. Reduce pathogenic factors

Actively prevent and treat chronic hepatitis, schistosomiasis, and gastrointestinal infections, avoid contact with and use of substances that are toxic to the liver, and reduce pathogenic factors.

2. Emotional stability

The liver has a very close relationship with mental state and emotions. Bad mood, depression, rage and excitement can all affect the function of the liver and accelerate the development of the disease.

3. Keep medication simple

Blindly and excessively abusing general drugs will increase the burden on the liver and be detrimental to liver recovery.

4. Diet adjustment

A low-fat, high-protein, high-vitamin and easily digestible diet is preferred. Be regular, quantitative and moderate.

5. Combination of movement and stillness

6. Quit smoking and drinking