What is cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is the result of long-term, continuous damage to the liver and may be due to many different causes. The damage leads to scarring, known as fi brosis. Irregular bumps (nodules) replace the smooth liver tissue and the liver becomes harder. Together, the scarring and the nodules are called cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis can take many years to develop and can do so without any noticeable symptoms until the damage to the liver is very serious. The build-up of scar tissue can interfere with the fl ow of blood to your liver and stop it from functioning properly. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure.
No one knows for sure how many people in the UK have cirrhosis as most people do not know they have it until the condition is serious. However, there is no doubt that the number of people with the condition continues to increase.
Every year over 4,000 people in the UK die from cirrhosis. Around 700 people have to have a liver transplant each year to survive. people have to have a liver transplant to survive.
Cirrhosis can affect anyone – men and women, young and old. People most at risk of cirrhosis: