Stage 2 is liver fibrosis or liver scarring, caused by chronic inflammation. Scarred tissue begins to replace healthy tissue, which reduces how well your liver functions. Liver scar tissue also reduces blood flow to your liver. Stage 3 is cirrhosis of your liver, caused by severe liver scarring.
If you're in the early stages of liver damage or disease, you can often heal over time with proper treatment and lifestyle changes. However, the later stages aren't reversible and sometimes require a liver transplant.
The treatment for cirrhosis depends on what has caused it. Cirrhosis cannot usually be cured, but there are ways to manage the symptoms and any complications, and stop the condition getting worse.
The one-year survival rate for patients in stage 2 is 98%.
Treating cirrhosis
There's no cure for cirrhosis at the moment. However, there are ways to manage the symptoms and any complications and slow its progression. Treating the problem that led to cirrhosis (for example, using anti-viral medicines to treat hepatitis C) can stop cirrhosis getting worse.
If you have a more serious form of ARLD – alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis – life-long abstinence is recommended. This is because stopping drinking is the only way to prevent your liver damage getting worse and potentially stop you dying of liver disease.
Acute liver failure can happen in as little as 48 hours. It's important to seek medical treatment at the first signs of trouble. These signs may include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and discomfort in your right side, just below your ribs.
The liver is part of the body's natural detoxification system, which helps filter out toxins. Foods that support liver health include berries, cruciferous vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, and fatty fish. Coffee and green tea contain antioxidants that are helpful for liver health.
Depending on the cause, acute liver failure can sometimes be reversed with treatment. In many situations, though, a liver transplant may be the only cure.
When a patient's liver disease reaches cirrhosis, a stage when the liver damage can no longer be reversed, it becomes a terminal diagnosis. Unlike most terminal illnesses, a cure may be available for some patients through a liver transplant.
Grade II - It is a moderately severe form and requires medical intervention to prevent worsening.
The liver is very resilient and capable of regenerating itself. Each time your liver filters alcohol, some of the liver cells die. The liver can develop new cells, but prolonged alcohol misuse (drinking too much) over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate.
Patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure may see their livers fail over weeks to months, compared to months to years as is typical in chronic liver failure.
People with acute liver failure are often treated in the intensive care unit of a hospital in a facility that can perform a liver transplant, if necessary. Your provider may try to treat the liver damage itself, but in many cases, treatment involves controlling complications and giving your liver time to heal.
When liver damage progresses to an advanced stage, fluid collects in the legs, called edema, and in the abdomen, called ascites. Ascites can lead to bacterial peritonitis, a serious infection. When the liver slows or stops producing the proteins needed for blood clotting, a person will bruise or bleed easily.
Fatty liver is a condition that occurs when too much fat builds up in the liver cells. It can lead to the liver becoming enlarged and swollen. In severe cases, fatty liver can lead to liver cirrhosis and failure. Luckily, fatty liver is reversible.
"Hard liquor contains more alcohol than beer or wine, making it more dangerous for your liver," continues Coleman. "A single shot of 80-proof hard liquor contains about 15 grams of alcohol and most shots contain even more alcohol than this." Another alcoholic beverage also takes a considerable toll on your liver.
Avoidance of Alcohol for Patients with Cirrhosis Cirrhosis
Patients with cirrhosis, regardless of etiology, should not drink any alcohol at all.
Cirrhosis is more common in adults ages 45 to 54. About 1 in 200 adults ages 45 to 54 in the United States has cirrhosis. Researchers believe the actual numbers may be higher because many people with cirrhosis are not diagnosed.