Cardiac cirrhosis is liver damage caused by chronic heart failure, leading to fibrous deposits and a mottled appearance. Treatment options include medication, surgery, diuretics, and lifestyle changes. It is more common in the elderly and can lead to liver dysfunction.
Cardiac cirrhosis is a liver condition caused by chronic heart failure. In patients with this condition, the liver is damaged due to blood flow disruptions and fibrous deposits begin to develop. While it is referred to as cirrhosis, it does not necessarily meet the diagnostic criteria for cirrhosis and it is important to note that this condition is not caused by alcohol abuse. People with cardiac cirrhosis can be treated in a variety of ways, sometimes in a hospital setting and sometimes on an outpatient basis, depending on the nature of the patient’s condition.
In people with heart failure, the entire cardiovascular system is disrupted, and this can lead to a cascade of symptoms, including congestive liver disease, in which pressure in blood vessels within the liver increases, leading to congestion. This damages liver cells, creating a distinctive mottled appearance on a cellular level. Liver cells begin to die, fibrous deposits develop, and the patient may develop cirrhosis of the heart.
Ideally, this condition should be prevented before heart conditions are treated. People with heart failure can be monitored for signs of complications, and treatment for heart failure can ease the strain on internal organs. Treatments may include medications and surgery, depending on the underlying cause of the heart failure and the patient’s overall health level. If early liver injury has occurred, treatment should prevent an increase in severity.
Some patients have no health problems due to heart cirrhosis, and as long as the underlying heart condition is managed, they may not need additional care. Other treatment options include the use of diuretics to lower blood pressure and volume, reduce the strain on the liver, and surgery. Diet and exercise regimens can also help improve the patient’s condition and can be undertaken under the direction of a general practitioner, physiotherapist or nutritionist.
This condition is more common in the elderly, as they are at greater risk of heart failure. Liver dysfunction can become a serious medical problem, as a compromised liver is less able to metabolize chemicals. The liver plays an important role in metabolizing a number of drugs, and people with liver damage may be less tolerant of some drugs as well as less able to consume alcohol safely. People with cirrhosis of the heart should be monitored closely for signs of liver dysfunction and their treatment adjusted accordingly if problems develop.
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