Cards (11)

  • Liver
    An important organ that plays a vital role for sustaining life
  • Functions of the liver
    • Stores glycogen, a type of fuel the body needs for energy
    • Makes bile, which helps us digest fats
    • Makes substances that help blood to clot and repair damaged tissues
    • Processes and removes alcohol, toxins or medicines from the blood
    • Helps the body fight infections
  • Cirrhosis
    Biologically caused by a build-up of fat in the liver cells, drinking too much alcohol over many years, hepatitis, scarring/inflammation of liver, excess iron in liver
  • Symptoms of Cirrhosis
    • Feel very tired and weak
    • Feel sick (nausea)
    • Lose your appetite
    • Loss of weight and muscle mass
    • Red patches on your palms and small, spider-like blood vessels on your skin
  • Symptoms of severe Cirrhosis
    • Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
    • Vomiting blood & itchy skin
    • Dark pee and tarry-looking poo
    • Bleeding or bruising easily
    • Swollen legs (oedema) or tummy (ascites) from a build-up of fluid
    • Loss of sex drive (libido)
  • Diagnosing Cirrhosis
    • Blood tests
    • Scans, such as an ultrasound, CT, MRI, or transient elastography scan
    • Liver biopsy, where a fine needle is used to remove a sample of liver cells so they can be examined under a microscope
  • Treating Cirrhosis
    • Using anti-viral medicines to treat hepatitis C can stop cirrhosis getting worse
    • Cut down or stop drinking alcohol
    • Weight loss
  • Emotional/mental impacts of Cirrhosis
    • Frustration
    • Depression
    • Insomnia
    • Guilt
  • Communication impacts of Cirrhosis
    • Isolation
    • Inability to express feeling
  • Physical impacts of Cirrhosis
    • Tiredness, jaundice, swelling of legs, side-effects of medication, ascites etc could result in: work issues, problems exercise, inability to perform personal care, becoming housebound, might have to exercise more, eat a healthier diet
  • Social impacts of Cirrhosis
    • Changes in diet (can't eat out with friends)
    • Inability to work (no contact with colleagues)
    • Stop drinking (can't go out with friends)