Cirrhosis Is Complicated

Cirrhosis is complicated Name University Date Cirrhosis is complicated Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease characterized by degenerative changes, alteration in structure, and widespread destruction of hepatic cells, impeding blood flow through the liver, and impairing cellular function. The causes of cirrhosis range from poisons to inflammation and to malnutrition. Cirrhosis is a destructive threat to human health and is one of the major causes of death among people between 35 and 55 years of age in the world (Crawford & Harris, 2013). This paper seeks to describe the risk factors associated with the development of cirrhosis, how certain risk factors may be perceived as more "acceptable" than others when a person develops cirrhosis, risk factors that are commonly associated with the stigma of this disease and how the professional nurse can have a positive impact in this situation. In addition this paper will describe how the physiologic and psychosocial complications of cirrhosis affect a patient with this medical diagnosis, how the family of a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis is affected by the disease, and finally apply the nursing process to physiologic and psychosocial needs of the patient. Cirrhosis is associated with numerous risk factors. These are factors that affect one`s likelihood of contracting cirrhosis. The most common risk factor is alcohol abuse. Chronic alcohol abuse causes cirrhosis. Approximately a third of alcoholics develop this condition. Chronic viral hepatitis also causes cirrhosis. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus or hepatitis B virus results in cirrhosis. Hepatic congestion may also cause cirrhosis (Crawford & Harris, 2013). This occurs when there are repeated heart failure episodes causing liver congestion. Other risk factors include: chronic exposure to toxic environmental substances, parasitic schistosomiasis infection, extreme excess of vitamin A, and severe body reactions to prescribed drugs. Other risk factors such as age, gender, and race/ethnicity are perceived as more "acceptable" than others when a person develops cirrhosis (Younossi et al. 2006). This is because of their lack of control to such factors. Some risk factors are commonly associated with the stigma of this disease, and prof...