It's most commonly found in men over 45, yet the number of women developing cirrhosis is steadily increasing. To make matters worse, people who drink too much generally have poor nutritional habits. Since alcohol replaces food, essential vitamins and minerals are missing from the diet. So malnutrition aggravates cirrhosis. While alcohol abuse is the most common cause of cirrhosis, hepatitis, taking certain drugs, or exposure to certain chemicals can also produce this condition.
Doctors recognize the following as signs of advanced cirrhosis.
Itching Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract Hair loss Swelling in the legs and stomach Tendency to bruise easily Mental confusion Coma Cirrhosis can be life threatening, so get medical attention if you suspect your drinking habits may have gotten out of hand or you have any of the above symptoms. American Institute for Preventive Medicine. We subscribe to the HONcode principles.