Chronic liver disease and high blood pressure are two serious health problems that often happen together.
Many people around the world are affected by them, and knowing how these two conditions are connected can help people take better care of their health.
Chronic liver disease happens when the liver gets damaged over a long time. This damage can come from things like hepatitis, drinking too much alcohol, or having a fatty liver.
The liver is very important for cleaning the blood, helping with digestion, and keeping the body’s chemical levels balanced. When the liver is hurt, it can’t do these jobs well, and this can affect the whole body.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is too high. This can cause problems like heart disease and strokes.
One special kind of high blood pressure, called portal hypertension, is common in people with chronic liver disease. It affects the portal vein, which brings blood from the stomach, intestines, and spleen to the liver.
When the liver is damaged and full of scars, blood can’t flow through it easily. This causes pressure to build up in the portal vein.
Portal hypertension can lead to serious problems. These include swelling in the belly (called ascites), swelling in the legs, a bigger spleen, and large veins (called varices) in the stomach or throat that can bleed a lot. Many people don’t notice these problems until they become serious, so regular check-ups are very important.
There are many ways to treat portal hypertension and high blood pressure in people with liver disease. One important step is making healthy lifestyle changes. This includes drinking less alcohol, eating healthy foods, and keeping a healthy weight.
Doctors may also give medicine like beta-blockers. These help by slowing down the heart and lowering the pressure in the portal vein. This reduces the risk of bleeding from varices.
Sometimes, people need a medical procedure if medicine isn’t enough. One common treatment is called TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt). This is when doctors put a small tube inside the liver to help blood flow around the damaged parts. This lowers the pressure in the portal vein and helps with symptoms.
Chronic liver disease can also change blood pressure in the rest of the body. Some types of liver disease can affect how the heart and kidneys work, which also changes how blood pressure is controlled.
To stay healthy, people with liver disease and high blood pressure need regular doctor visits and tests. Finding and treating liver problems early can stop more serious problems from happening later.
In short, chronic liver disease and high blood pressure are closely linked, especially through portal hypertension. Knowing about this connection helps doctors and patients work together to create a full plan for treatment.
This plan may include healthy habits, medicine, and sometimes surgery. With the right care, people can feel better and live a healthier life.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about Intensive blood pressure treatment for older adults may harm heart and kidneys and What you should know about high blood pressure medications.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about High blood pressure and marijuana: a risky combination and Common blood pressure drug may not prevent heart attack effectively.
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