The liver is a large, internal organ in the body that has many different and very important functions. The liver produces bile, which helps with the neutralization of stomach acid. It acts as storage area for glycogen and vitamins, converts nutrients and substances into more user friendly ones, acts as a detoxifying agent, phagocytizes dead cells, and can synthesize new compounds. (VanPutte et al., 2014) Cirrhosis is a disease of the liver that replaces healthy liver cells called hepatocytes, with hardened tissue, affecting liver functions and blood flow. (VanPutte et al., 2014)
The liver is a highly specialized organ made up of cells specific to its needs and functions. It is a large organ made up of lobes (both major and minor), veins, arteries
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Hepatocytes take nutrients and oxygen from the blood mix and modify or release them into different parts of the liver or other organ systems (VanPutte et al. 2014).
Cirrhosis of the liver is the scarring or fibrosis of the liver, as stated by the Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). If cirrhosis is caught in the early stages and the cause is determined, the further scarring of the liver can be prevented. Cirrhosis occurs as a result of excessive consumption of alcohol or as a side effect of Hepatitis B or C. It can also be less commonly caused by genetics, medicinal complications, or other liver diseases (Lehrer, 2014).
As cirrhosis progresses, the hardened tissues being formed stop the liver from functioning properly. The buildup of scar tissue prevents blood flow through the liver and slows down toxin and nutrient processing. The production of substances made by the liver is also delayed (WebMD, 2014). As stated in WebMD, 2014, symptoms of cirrhosis include: loss of appetite, lack of energy (fatigue), weight loss or weight gain, bruises, yellowing of skin or the whites of eyes (jaundice), itchy skin, fluid retention (edema) and swelling, a brownish or orange tint to the urine, light colored stools, confusion, disorientation, personality changes, blood in the stool, and
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If damage to the liver is caused by alcoholism, cessation of drinking alcohol is recommended to stop more damage to the liver. Cessation of alcohol consumption can help aid in the scarring of the liver tissues, allowing healthy liver cells to regenerate. Another cause of cirrhosis that is not related to alcoholism is fatty liver. In these cases, changes in diet are used. Medicines are also prescribed to treat the symptoms associated with cirrhosis. For example, if a person gets an infection from the liver’s inability to fight and process infections properly, antibiotics are given to treat the symptoms. If a patient develops edema as a side effect of cirrhosis, a diuretic may be prescribed to lessen fluid retention (American Liver Foundation, 2015 Lehrer, 2014 WebMD
* Edema: abnormal accumulation of fluid (aka swelling). This is important for cirrhosis because when the tissue starts turning into scar tissue, the kidneys retain more salt. This increase in salt and water causes the visualized swelling. As time progresses, this swelling can affect abdomen area of the body, making edema secondary to hepatocellular failure since it is the tissue cell morphing that causes edema to manifest.
Four years ago, one of our long time family friend was diagnosed with Cirrhosis. This is a disease of the liver that causes scarring and inflammation of the liver. The liver cells affected by cirrhosis start to degenerate and affect functions of the liver. For sometime before, he had symptoms of abdominal and legs swelling, blood in the stool and was suddenly gaining weight. The doctor described his condition as end of liver stage disease that is preventing proper blood flow through the liver and recommended transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure to be performed.
Liver produces bile, which helps to decompose lipid molecules, during digestion. It also produces certain proteins and cholesterol that are needed in the blood plasma, and that carry fats around the body. The liver stores iron, so if the liver is negatively impacted, it can lead to iron deficiency (Stanford Children’s Health 2015). Furthermore, it is vital is removing toxin from the body, so if the liver can’t function properly, the toxins will be left in the body, causing further damage. It also regulates blood clotting, so without the liver, the body won’t be able to stop bleeding in an injury, and blood may clot in arteries, which will lead to heart attack (Stanford Children’s Health
Characterized by progressive tissue injury and scarring, cirrhosis is among the leading causes of chronic liver failure in the United States. Recent research conducted by the National Institutes of Health indicated that the prevalence of cirrhosis, especially in clients diagnosed with Hepatitis C, has increased steadily throughout the past decade and will likely continue to increase in the future (Kanwal et al., 2011). Caused by recurrent tissue damage and inflammation, cirrhosis occurs as healthy hepatocytes (liver cells) are replaced by fibrotic and non-functional scar tissue through natural healing processes. Although liver tissue is normally very resilient, sustained injury eventually
The reason of weight loss like nine kilos is attributed to his lack of appetite (Du, Pan, & Li, 2010). Liver damage has intense and disturbing effects on metabolism of all nutrients like malnutrition which is common among with patients with cirrhosis that also affects major impairment in their social, occupational functioning and behavioral and psychological changes (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA], 2005).
As the Directors at Sharp Reese Medical Facility it is important to raise awareness about the importance of the liver to the human body and the many important functions that it performs for the body such as digestion and the filtration of toxins and drugs from
The liver is essential to digestion and subsequent metabolic processes. It is a plays a large part in the processing of carbohydrates and lipids. As carbohydrates are absorbed in the small intestine, they are first brought to the liver via the portal vein. Depending on the needs of the body, the liver will either store excess glucose as glycogen or breakdown glycogen to release glucose into the bloodstream. Lipids are not soluble in water and cannot be efficiently absorbed without bile produced by the liver. Bile emulsifies fats and allows lipase, an essential protease produced by the pancreas, to effectively break down complex lipids for absorption.
Cirrhosis is known as a chronic disease of the liver. Cirrhosis usually develops when the scar tissue replaces normal, healthy tissue in the liver. It tends to happen whenever healthy cells are damaged over a long amount of time, usually for many years. However, the scar tissue makes the liver lumpy and hard, after a while, the organs will start to fail and the scar tissue makes it tough for the blood to get through a large vein (the portal vein) that goes into the liver. Occasionally when the blood backs up into the portal vein, it can get into the spleen (an abdominal organ involved in the production and removal of blood cells) and can really cause trouble. What causes this is other liver conditions or diseases the person may already have, which includes an (alcohol-related liver disease) by drinking too much alcohol for many years non-stop. It causes fat and inflammation in the liver. The amount of alcohol that it takes to hurt the liver is different for everyone.
Cirrhosis is a condition of scarring of the liver which is caused when the liver has tried repairing itself following damage. This damage may come from a previous infection, such as from a form of hepatitis (usually hepatitis C) or damage done by the use of toxins, such as alcohol. Cirrhosis is irreversible but future damage can be slowed or prevented by treating the underlying cause.
The liver is a vital organ which has multiple functions to keep the body operating normally. The liver stores vitamins, sugar and iron to help give the human body energy. It controls the production and removal of cholesterol and clears the blood of waste products, drugs and other toxins. Furthermore, the liver makes clotting factors to prevent excessive bleeding after cuts or injuries. The liver produces immune factors and clears away bacteria
Cirrhosis is a serious disease of the liver where scar tissue replaces normal healthy tissue, and affects the function and structure of the liver. Liver, which is the largest organ in the body, has a vital roles which are important to keep the body functioning well. Liver makes proteins and enzymes that regulate blood clotting. It also regulates cholesterol and stores the energy. In addition, the liver removes poisons from the blood. 30% of cirrhosis's victims are diagnosed will remain alive for 5 years. Cirrhosis can be defined regarding its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Cirrhosis replaces normal liver tissue with scar tissue. Hepatitis is inflammatory of the liver some symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and unexplained weight loss. Drinking alcohol can develop cancer into the body. Some of the cancer are mouth, throat, and liver.
Introduction and Background: Cirrhosis named by Laennec in 1826 means orange or twany in Greek. Cirrhosis is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a diffuse process characterized by fibrosis and the conversion of normal liver architecture into structurally abnormal nodules. (Anthony PP) Patients with cirrhosis are susceptible to a variety of complications, and their life expectancy is markedly reduced. Global liver cirrhosis deaths increased from around 676,000 in 1980 to over 1 million in 2010.
The Liver is the body's largest gland, weighing about three to four pounds. It is located beneath the diaphragm in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) of the abdominal cavity. Without the liver, our bodies would be poisoned and unfit for us to do anything at all. It is a metabolically active organ responsible for many vital life functions. The primary functions of the liver are: Bile productions and excretion. Excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs. Metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Enzyme activation. Storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals. Synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin, and clotting factors. And blood detoxification and purification.
Expanding across the upper section of the abdomen behind the lower ribs is the second largest organ in the human body. The liver has a multitude of functions, one of which is discharging chemicals that are pertinent for the survival of other parts of the body (Medicine.net, 2014). The liver also functions as a storage unit as it breaks down and detoxifies substances including hormones and insulin produced by the body. The liver also filters and breaks down medications, and narcotic substances ingested by consumption (Medicine.net, 2014).