• Published on: Aug 30, 2021
  • 2 minute read
  • By: Dr Rakesh Rai

What Are The Causes Of Liver Cirrhosis?

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"What are the causes of liver cirrhosis?"

Several diseases can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, which is characterized by hardening and scarring to the organ's tissue. These include alcoholism, hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis B, and fatty liver disease.

Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and hepatitis infection. Smoking and excessive drinking can lead to liver cirrhosis because they reduce the amount of oxygen and nutrients delivered to the liver. Smokers also have an increased risk of developing alcoholic hepatitis if they drink as well. Diseases such as chronic pancreatitis, a condition often caused by alcoholism, may also cause cirrhosis. Hepatitis infections are one prime example; people who will contract this type of virus have a greater likelihood of developing the liver disease later in life than those who haven't been exposed to it.

Cirrhosis is a condition that results when healthy cells inside the liver are replaced by scar tissue because of an injury, infection, or chronic disease. This eventually reduces the functionality of the organ and may eventually lead to liver failure, which in many cases can necessitate a transplant. Prevention and early detection for common conditions associated with liver cirrhosis should be pursued such as hepatitis B or C or Wilson’s Disease (a rare genetic disorder). Treatment options vary depending on the severity of cirrhosis but may include alcohol abstinence, medication to promote regeneration of diseased hepatocytes (specialized cells in the lining), surgery to remove any pools of blood/scar tissue from within the abdominal cavity that would otherwise compress other organs.

There are many possible causes, including genetics, diseases of the biliary tract system, drugs, and alcohol abuse. The cirrhotic liver has less elasticity than a typically healthy liver. This can lead to ruptured blood vessels within the organ that will cause bleeding into the cavity of the organ. The result of this bleeding is swelling and destruction of cells in that area; it's also called 'cirrhosis.' As cirrhosis progresses, there are limits to how much your damaged liver can work towards cleansing and detoxifying your body by removing poisons or toxins from the food you eat - because a damaged liver cannot produce enough bile that helps aid digestion.

There are many causes for liver cirrhosis, so it's not as though we can generalize. Some symptoms of liver damage include jaundice (yellowing skin) and frequent urination. Most signs of liver failure occur only in the advanced stages when the organ becomes too large to be compensated for by other organs or systems of the body. One should also note that alcohol is a primary cause of cirrhosis and often comes with other complications such as malnutrition, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

A) Symptoms of liver cirrhosis include jaundice, bruising easily, abnormal swelling in the legs and abdomen.

B) Hepatitis is a potential cause of liver cirrhosis.

C) Liver cancer can also produce symptoms related to liver cirrhosis such as enlarged lymph nodes or fluid buildup in the abdomen.

D) People who have eaten too much alcohol for many years are more likely to develop chronic alcohol abuse which destroys the cells on your liver causing it to stop functioning for good resulting in death. (this answer would be an ideal opportunity for advertising a medical consultation site but just mentioning their name could result in being reported)

E) Long-term exposure to viral hepatitis B or C

There are many causes of liver cirrhosis. Open sores on the skin, inflammation of the liver (cirrhosis), gall bladder problems, heavy drinking/overuse of alcohol, viral hepatitis, or other infections that cause scarring in the liver.

Liver cirrhosis is most often caused by chronic or acute alcoholism, drug abuse, hepatitis C, and other conditions that impair liver function. Liver cirrhosis causes your liver to be enlarged as its cells increase in number and fill up with fat. Liver cells normally work to get rid of any extra substances found in the blood and body fluids because these substances can cause damage to various organs including the liver. As diseased cells accumulate rapidly in the liver, they cannot do their job efficiently leading to additional organ damage such as end-stage renal disease. This whole process exposes you more easily to viruses such as hepatitis B and C which ultimately leads to advanced disease of the lungs called "cryptogenic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis".

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Monthly Health Survey via SecondMedic App: A Smarter Approach to Preventive Healthcare

Monthly Health Survey via SecondMedic App: A Smarter Approach to Preventive Healthcare

Healthcare is gradually shifting from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. Traditional health models rely heavily on annual checkups or medical visits only after symptoms become severe. However, many chronic and lifestyle-related conditions develop silently over time. The Monthly Health Survey via the SecondMedic App addresses this gap by enabling continuous health monitoring and early risk identification.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and NITI Aayog, early detection and preventive care are critical to reducing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in India. Digital health tools play a key role in achieving this shift.

What Is the Monthly Health Survey?

The Monthly Health Survey is a structured digital questionnaire delivered through the SecondMedic App. It captures key health indicators such as:

  • recurring symptoms
     

  • lifestyle habits
     

  • stress and sleep patterns
     

  • nutrition and activity levels
     

  • chronic condition markers
     

By repeating the survey monthly, subtle health trends become visible.

 

Why Monthly Health Tracking Matters

Annual Checkups Miss Gradual Changes

Many health issues develop slowly. Annual tests may appear normal while symptoms quietly progress between visits.

Monthly surveys:

  • detect early warning signs
     

  • capture symptom patterns
     

  • identify lifestyle-related risks
     

 

Health Is Dynamic, Not Static

Stress, sleep, diet and activity fluctuate monthly. Regular tracking reflects real-life health variation more accurately than isolated tests.

 

How the Monthly Health Survey Works

Each month, users answer a guided set of questions related to:

  • physical symptoms
     

  • mental wellbeing
     

  • lifestyle behaviours
     

  • known medical conditions
     

The app analyses responses to highlight:

  • risk trends
     

  • symptom persistence
     

  • areas needing attention
     

This structured approach simplifies health awareness.

 

Key Health Areas Covered

Symptom Monitoring

Persistent fatigue, headaches, breathlessness or digestive issues are tracked across months to identify patterns.

 

Lifestyle Risk Factors

The survey captures:

  • sedentary behaviour
     

  • sleep quality
     

  • stress levels
     

  • dietary habits
     

These factors strongly influence long-term health outcomes.

 

Chronic Disease Indicators

For individuals with diabetes, hypertension or thyroid conditions, monthly monitoring supports better disease control and early escalation.

 

Role in Preventive Healthcare

Preventive healthcare focuses on stopping disease before complications arise.

Monthly health surveys support prevention by:

  • identifying risks early
     

  • prompting timely consultations
     

  • supporting lifestyle modification
     

  • reducing emergency care needs
     

WHO and NITI Aayog both highlight digital monitoring as a cornerstone of preventive health systems.

 

Benefits for Individuals

Early Awareness

Users become aware of health changes before symptoms become severe.

 

Empowered Decision-Making

Access to regular health insights encourages proactive lifestyle choices.

 

Reduced Anxiety

Structured tracking reduces uncertainty and fear about unexplained symptoms.

 

Better Doctor Consultations

Survey data provides doctors with a clearer health history, improving consultation quality.

 

Benefits for Chronic Care Management

For chronic conditions, consistency is key.

Monthly surveys help:

  • track symptom control
     

  • identify early deterioration
     

  • support medication adherence
     

  • reduce complications
     

This continuous loop improves long-term outcomes.

 

Data-Driven Personalised Care

The survey supports personalised care by:

  • tailoring recommendations
     

  • prioritising high-risk users
     

  • guiding preventive interventions
     

This approach moves healthcare from generic advice to individualised guidance.

 

Privacy and Responsible Use

Health data is sensitive.

The survey framework is designed to:

  • collect only relevant information
     

  • support medical decision-making
     

  • maintain confidentiality
     

Responsible data use builds trust and long-term engagement.

 

Why Digital Surveys Are Effective in India

India’s healthcare challenges include:

  • large population
     

  • limited access to preventive care
     

  • high lifestyle disease burden
     

Digital surveys overcome barriers by:

  • being accessible anywhere
     

  • requiring minimal time
     

  • enabling large-scale preventive monitoring
     

This scalability makes them highly impactful.

 

Integration with Broader Health Ecosystems

Monthly health surveys work best when integrated with:

  • medical consultations
     

  • diagnostic services
     

  • preventive checkups
     

  • digital health records
     

Integration ensures continuity of care.

 

Long-Term Impact on Healthcare Outcomes

Over time, regular health tracking leads to:

  • earlier diagnoses
     

  • reduced hospitalisations
     

  • better chronic disease control
     

  • lower healthcare costs
     

  • improved quality of life
     

Lancet studies show that continuous monitoring significantly improves preventive outcomes.

 

Who Should Use a Monthly Health Survey?

  • adults over 30
     

  • individuals with chronic conditions
     

  • people with high-stress lifestyles
     

  • those focusing on preventive health
     

  • corporate wellness participants
     

Proactive monitoring benefits all age groups.

 

Conclusion

The Monthly Health Survey via the SecondMedic App represents a modern, preventive approach to healthcare. By capturing health trends regularly rather than annually, it empowers individuals to act early, supports doctors with better insights and reduces the burden of advanced disease. In an era where prevention is the most effective medicine, monthly health surveys transform awareness into action and data into healthier lives.

 

References

  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – Preventive Healthcare and Early Detection Report

  •  NITI Aayog – Digital Health and Preventive Care Strateg

  •  World Health Organization (WHO) – Digital Health Monitoring Guideline

  •  Lancet – Preventive Healthcare and Continuous Monitoring Studies

  • National Health Authority – Digital Health Mission Indi

  •  Statista – Digital Health App Adoption Trends India

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