As medical science advances, we are staying alive longer these days. Many people are aware of most ordinary diseases that kill including heart disease, cancer, strokes and diabetes. Yet there are many other conditions that most people do not find out about until they contract them or know someone who been diagnosed with them.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy you probably have a lot of concerns like:
What is hepatic encephalopathy (HE)?
Can HE be treated?
What causes HE?
What are the early indications of HE?
You might not be aware that there are various hepatic encephalopathy stages.
HE is a common condition in people with signs of liver failure including cirrhosis of the liver. In fact if you are experiencing symptoms of cirrhosis, you need to have your physician check for HE. To find out additional details about liver cirrhosis view our site for what is cirrhosis.
A widely used treatment for hepatic encephalopathy is liquid lactulose that pulls fluid out of the body into a person’s colon, softening stools and creating additional bowel movements. This alleviates the toxin levels in your intestines by eliminating them quickly and reducing the stress on the liver. Using liquid lactulose for HE is a time-tested treatment but produces a few minor side effects. Lactulose side effects can include: loose stools. You might also experience stomach upset, bloating, abdominal pain or dehydration.
It is important to get treatment for HE as soon as possible to avoid additional complications or an increased likelihood for failure of the liver.