Things To Do

1.  A detailed evaluation is required with a liver specialist to grade the disease and decide the appropriate treatment.
2. Periodic liver function tests are required every 1-3 months in early cirrhosis, and every 1-4 weeks in progressed cirrhosis accompanied by a liver specialist, and follow-up is necessary. Period between the checks will be decided by your physician depending on the symptoms and the severity of the disease.
3. In the case of chronic liver disease, healthy nutrition is critical for optimum liver functions. In contrast to common belief, digestion remains normal until the late stages of the liver disease except for the presence of severe jaundice. Thus, it is only myth that we should completely avoid fatty food and proteins in all types of liver diseases. This is not only unnecessary but also very harmful because it results in malnutrition, loss of weight, and quicker impairment of health in most cases.
4. In Hepatitis B-related cirrhosis, if HBV DNA test is positive, a specialist in liver should be consulted to consider Lamivudin therapy.
5. In early cirrhosis associated with Hepatitis C, a specialist in liver should be consulted to receive Interferon-alpha and ribavirin treatment, which can be useful.

Things To Avoid

1.  In alcohol-related cirrhosis, in any circumstances you should avoid alcohol and limit alcohol intake in all other types of cirrhosis particularly in Hepatitis C.
2.  Excessive physical activity should be avoided especially in virus-related cirrhosis.
3.  Also, requisite bed rest should be avoided, and reasonable level of activity and moves should be maintained.
4.  In advanced stages of cirrhosis, contact sports should be avoided because of insufficient coagulation and bleeding tendency.
5.  Self medication methods should be avoided because of the liver failure, and because the medication may have long-term effects and further damage the already damaged liver.