Laennec’s cirrhosis, or alcoholic liver disease, is caused by inflammation and scar tissue buildup in the liver due to alcohol abuse. Symptoms include jaundice, weakness, and vomiting. Treatment involves immediate cessation of alcohol consumption to prevent further damage.
Laennec’s cirrhosis is another name for alcoholic liver disease. The name comes from a famous French physician named Thophile Hyacinthe Laennec, who was also an expert on tuberculosis. Laennec’s cirrhosis generally tends to progress in stages, and each stage is usually more dangerous than the last. When the liver starts failing due to alcohol abuse, all sorts of major functions in the body generally start malfunctioning along with it. The disease can potentially kill a person if it is not treated appropriately and quickly.
Some people can drink constantly without developing liver problems, but for others, their liver gradually becomes inflamed. This inflammation is called hepatitis and is usually the first step on the road to Laennec’s cirrhosis. Over time, all of this inflammation can gradually cause scar tissue to build up in a person’s liver. This causes the liver to harden and start to function very poorly – a hardening of the liver caused by scar tissue is known as cirrhosis. Once this damage has been done, it generally cannot be undone, although the person may be able to implement some lifestyle changes that can help avoid further damage and extend life expectancy.
The symptoms of Laennec’s cirrhosis are often extremely varied, in part because the liver does so many important things for a person’s body. The best-known symptom is probably jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin caused by the liver’s inability to remove toxins from a person’s blood. Other common symptoms include blackened stools, weakness, fatigue, and dry mouth and throat. People may find that they lack an appetite and may find it difficult to mentally keep track of things happening around them. Eventually, people may start vomiting, and sometimes this vomiting can include digestive blood, which looks a bit like brown sand or coffee.
When trying to treat Laennec’s cirrhosis, experts suggest that the first and most important step is to stop drinking any kind immediately. This can help protect the liver from further damage. If this is not done, the disease will often continue to progress and the person may die. Even if the individual refrains from any further alcohol consumption, their life expectancy could still be shortened by the harm that has already occurred. Stopping can potentially make a big difference, but this is often more difficult for some people than others due to the addictive nature of alcohol.
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