Before reading this article, I sincerely invite you to click "Follow", which is not only convenient for you to discuss and share, but also to share more professional health knowledge with you, so as to escort your health, thank you for your support.
Yang Meijuan's retirement life seems peaceful, but the pressure and exhaustion have accumulated over the years, which has had a profound impact on her body. As a retired cleaner, her job has exposed her to physical exertion and chemical irritation for long periods of time, which has left her body showing signs of overwhelm.
Her family's medicine cabinet is full of medicines, from cold medicine to anti-inflammatories, and she knows everything about her health.
One afternoon, Yang Meijuan took a leisurely walk in the park, enjoying the rare quiet time after retirement, where she enjoyed the fresh air, watching the children chase and play on the grass, and the old people playing chess or chatting in the shade of the trees. Just as she was immersed in the tranquility, a discussion about health suddenly came to her ears, and the topic was about cirrhosis.
"Did you know that a lot of cirrhosis is dragged out by itself, and the early it is detected, the sooner it can be treated." It was the voice of a middle-aged man who seemed to be explaining to a friend the severity of cirrhosis.
She had always thought that her minor ailment was not worth the fuss, but the sudden message made her worry about whether she was ignoring any important health signs. She thought about her recent physical condition and recalled some of the symptoms she had despised before.
The next day, she went to the local hospital and found Dr. Lau, an experienced hepatatologist who is trusted by the local residents.
In the office, Yang described her symptoms and recent changes in her body to Dr. Liu. After listening carefully, Dr. Lau began to explain in detail the early signs of cirrhosis and the symptoms to be aware of.
"Sister Yang, liver cirrhosis may not be easy to detect in the early stage, but there are three signs that are very obvious, and once they appear, action must be taken immediately." Dr. Lau's tone was serious and focused.
He mentioned abdominal edema, which is caused by portal hypertension caused by cirrhosis, which causes fluid to accumulate in the abdomen, and Yang Meijuan recalls that she did feel more full than usual and sometimes even stressed recently.
The yellowing of her skin and eyes, a direct manifestation of a disorder of bilirubin metabolism, suddenly realized that this may explain the fact that the whites of her eyes were not as clear as they used to be when she looked in the mirror recently.
Dr. Liu mentioned fatigue, which is a warning sign of liver insufficiency, and Yang Meijuan's declining physical strength, which was thought to be a normal sign of old age, now seems to be related to liver health.
Dr Lau emphasises that if these symptoms appear, hesitation to go to the hospital for further testing may result in missing out on the best time for treatment. "Cirrhosis can progress rapidly, and once it progresses to an advanced stage, the difficulty and complexity of treatment will increase dramatically, so timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial."
After listening to Dr. Liu's explanation, Yang Meijuan felt both shocked and grateful, she did not expect that the small symptoms she casually ignored could be a sign of a serious illness.
Through this doctor's professional explanation and her own personal experience, Yang Meijuan deeply realized that health is a valuable asset that cannot be ignored. She also hopes that through her own experience, she can remind more people to pay attention to the subtle changes in their bodies and take timely action to avoid regrets.
When discussing the specific symptoms of cirrhosis and its clinical significance, we typically focus on commonly recognized hallmark manifestations such as ascites, jaundice, and hepatic encephalopathy.
However, there are some less noticeable but equally important early signs that are often overlooked in everyday life, and here we will delve into some of the lesser-mentioned early symptoms of cirrhosis and why patients should seek medical help immediately when they appear.
In addition to the common jaundice, there is a less mentioned symptom of skin changes in cirrhosis, spider angiomata, which are formed by the dilation of small blood vessels, usually on the neck, chest, and face. Although they may also occur in patients without cirrhosis, the frequency and number of such phenomena increase significantly in patients with cirrhosis.
People with cirrhosis may experience loss of appetite, nausea, and even vomiting, which can sometimes be mistaken for common gastrointestinal problems. However, these digestive problems are actually a direct result of liver insufficiency and metabolic disorders. Therefore, these seemingly ordinary digestive symptoms may actually be a subtle but obvious sign of the progression of cirrhosis.
Another symptom that people with cirrhosis may experience is a change in sleep patterns. Cirrhosis can lead to hepatic encephalopathy, which initially manifests as a disturbance of sleep rhythms.
Patients may present with daytime sleepiness and nighttime insomnia, a change in sleep pattern that not only affects quality of life, but may also exacerbate cognitive decline. Although this symptom may not be taken seriously by patients and their families in the early stages, it is an early warning that cirrhosis is affecting central nervous system function.
In the face of cirrhosis, we should not only focus on the well-known symptoms, but also be vigilant for these lesser-mentioned but equally important early signs. By knowing and understanding these early symptoms, we can detect and intervene earlier in the progression of cirrhosis, thereby improving prognosis and increasing the likelihood of successful treatment.
When it comes to cirrhosis management and care, common recommendations include dietary modifications, alcohol avoidance, and regular medical monitoring. However, mental health management for patients with cirrhosis is also a very important but often overlooked aspect.
Many people may not realize that in addition to the physical challenges they face, patients with cirrhosis are in great need of attention and support for their mental and emotional state.
Patients with cirrhosis often experience mood swings, including depression and anxiety, which are not only directly affected by the pain, but may also be related to physiological changes caused by cirrhosis, such as the development of hepatic encephalopathy, which may affect the patient's emotional control.
Patients with cirrhosis need to be very careful in their dietary management, and the generally recommended low-salt diet not only helps to control ascites, but also reduces the symptoms of portal hypertension.
However, the diet should be more individualized, taking into account the patient's overall nutritional status and possible food intolerances. Adequate protein intake is key to supporting liver function and overall health, but it also needs to be avoided to avoid overburdening the liver.
Modification of physical activity is also a central element in the care of people with cirrhosis, and while strenuous exercise needs to be avoided, moderate physical activity can help improve circulation, strengthen muscles, and improve quality of life.
Through the above points, we can see that the management of patients with liver cirrhosis is far more than simple medical treatment, but also includes comprehensive lifestyle adjustment and meticulous care of psychological state. Only through this all-round management can we effectively help patients with liver cirrhosis improve their quality of life and control the progression of the disease.
(All names have been changed)
What are your thoughts on preventing cirrhosis? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!
#头条首发大赛#
bibliography
[1] Xu Lu. Evaluation of the Efficacy of Pharmaceutical Services in Patients with Hepatitis B Cirrhosis by Drug Treatment Management Combined with PCNE Classification System, Herald of Medicine, 2024-06-01