The Road to Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease that is characterized by normal liver cells being replaced by scar tissue. This affects the normal functioning of the liver and usually occurs from years of damage to the liver, resulting in inflammation, scarring and thickening of the fibrous tissues. It is most often a result of chronic hepatitis C or alcoholism, however there are other causes which will be discussed throughout this paper.
Why is the liver important?
More often than not, a person is born with a healthy, normally functioning liver. The liver is an extremely important organ and plays a vital role in maintaining homeostasis in the human body. Among the most important functions of the liver are: processing nutrients from food, removing toxins from the body, helping to store sugar and releasing it into the blood as needed to maintain glucose levels, and producing bile for digestive purposes. The liver also plays a role in producing proteins, fat metabolism for producing energy, breaking down old damaged cells, and blood clotting. It is obvious to see that the liver has many important functions that a person’s body depends on. Cirrhosis of the liver can affect the normal functions of the liver, as well as the body’s normal homeostatic state. This can result in many problems, including death.
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There can be several different causes of cirrhosis. These factors range from hereditary factors to poor lifestyle choices. Cirrhosis can be caused by taking excessive amounts of liver damaging medication or by drinking too much alcohol. It can also be the result of certain liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis C. To sum it up, anything that causes damage to the liver can put a person at risk of developing liver