Patient's question:
Uncle loves to drink beer the most in his daily life. Because he has been hospitalized many times due to drinking beer, and he has had alcoholic liver disease for several years. The doctor has always warned him to quit drinking, but every time he is discharged from the hospital, he continues to drink beer as usual. This year, his health has deteriorated rapidly, and he often feels nauseous, has abdominal pain, and sometimes suffers from diarrhea.Doctor's answer:
Ascites is a common symptom of cirrhosis, with fluid retention in the abdominal cavity and recurrent abdominal pain. It is often accompanied by gastrointestinal bleeding. The blood flow in the veins (the blood pathway floating from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver) is obstructed again, and the blood circulates through collateral circulation, forming esophageal varices. The rupture of the esophageal varices leads to severe bleeding again, which is the most common cause of death in cirrhosis. Dietary recommendations are relatively broad, and it is advisable to choose highly nutritious, easily digestible foods. Hard, greasy, and heavy foods, as well as vegetables rich in rough fiber, such as chives and bean sprouts, should be avoided.