Cirrhosis Health Article

Prevention

Eliminating alcohol abuse could prevent 75–80% of all cases of cirrhosis.

Other preventive measures include:

• obtaining counseling or other treatment for alcoholism
• taking precautions (practicing safe sex, avoiding dirty needles) to prevent hepatitis
• getting immunizations against hepatitis if a person is in a high-risk group
• receiving appropriate medical treatment quickly when diagnosed with hepatitis B or hepatitis C
• having blood drawn at regular intervals to rid the body of excess iron from hemochromatosis
• using medicines (chelating agents) to rid the body of excess copper from Wilson's disease
• wearing protective clothing and following product directions when using toxic chemicals at work, at home, or in the garden

BOOKS

Berkow, Robert, ed. The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 1997.

The Editors of Time-Life Books. The Medical Advisor: The Complete Guide to Alternative and Conventional Treatments. Alexandria, VA: Time Life, Inc., 1996.

Springhouse Corporation. Everything You Need to Know About Diseases. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corporation, 1996.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Liver Foundation. 1425 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. (800) 223-0179. <http://www.liverfoundation.org>.

United Network for Organ Sharing. 1100 Boulders Parkway, Suite 500, P.O. Box 13770, Richmond, VA 23225-8770.(804) 330-8500.

OTHER

"Cirrhosis of the Liver." ThriveOnline. 8 May 1998 <http://thriveonline.oxygen.com>.

"Cirrhosis of the Liver." National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. <http://www.niddk.nih.gov>.

Maureen Haggerty