Prevention of Liver Cirrhosis

1. Limiting Alcohol Consumption

• Alcohol can harm liver cells• Alcohol consumption within recommended limit

• Men - up to 21 units of alcohol a week (3-4 units a day)• Women - up to 14 units of alcohol a week (2-3 units a day)

2. Never mix alcohol and drugs

• Some medications, including acetaminophen, react with alcohol and can damage the liver

3. Good nutrition

• well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and milk can help liver cells function at their best

• Proteins are also very important in a well-balanced diet, but you should avoid eating too much protein if you have cirrhosis. Too much protein can raise the amount of ammonia in the bloodstream, which may lead to mental impairment

• Patients with cirrhosis should avoid eating uncooked shellfish. Shellfish include shrimp, prawn, lobster, crayfish, and crabs. Shellfish may carry organisms that can cause hepatitis or other diseases

• You should also limit the amount of sodium in your diet to help prevent your body from retaining extra fluid. This will help you feel better and may prevent or delay complications, such as fluid buildup in the abdomen

4. Try to keep your weight in the normal range

• Being overweight can make several liver diseases worse

5. Reduce the risk of hepatitis

• Cirrhosis can be caused by hepatitis B and C. • Hepatitis B and C can be caught through having unprotected

sex or by sharing needles in order to inject drugs• Ask doctor about hepatitis vaccinations• However, there is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C.