Understanding the Implications of Advanced Hepatitis C on Liver Health
Hepatitis C can progress to stage four, leading to severe liver damage or cirrhosis. This advanced stage impairs liver function, increases cancer risk, and presents symptoms like fatigue, jaundice, and swelling. Early detection and treatment are vital. Transmission occurs through blood, sexual contact, or from mother to child. Seek medical advice if symptoms develop for effective management and to prevent liver failure.
Sponsored
Understanding the Impacts of Severe Hepatitis C on Your Liver
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) gradually damages the liver, causing scarring and functional decline. The disease unfolds in four stages, beginning with mild inflammation and progressing to extensive liver deterioration or cirrhosis. At stage four, liver function becomes critically impaired due to significant damage. The body's immune response produces inflammatory chemicals, prompting the liver to generate collagen—a fibrous protein aiding tissue repair. Excess collagen accumulation results in fibrosis, which hampers blood flow and kills liver cells, leading to liver failure.
In advanced stage four, the extensive scarring obstructs blood flow and impairs toxin filtration, markedly increasing liver cancer risk. Symptoms include bruising, confusion, itching, fatigue, swelling, nausea, jaundice, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Early stages often show no symptoms, but signs of severe damage emerge by stage four. Hepatitis C transmits through sharing infected needles, unprotected sex, or from mother to child. Prompt medical consultation is essential if symptoms appear.
