As medical science progresses, life is extended in a variety of ways. Most people are aware of many common diseases that shorten life including heart attacks, cancer, strokes and diabetes. But there are many other conditions that most people do not find out about until they contract them or are familiar with someone who has them.
When you or someone you love has been diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy you may have more than a few questions like:
What is hepatic encephalopathy (HE)? Can hepatic encephalopathy be cured? What causes hepatic encephalopathy? What are the early indications of hepatic encephalopathy?
You might not be aware of the various hepatic encephalopathy stages.
Hepatic encephalopathy often occurs in patients with signs of liver damage such as liver cirrhosis. In fact if you are experiencing cirrhosis symptoms, you should have your physician run scans for hepatic encephalopathy. To find out more about cirrhosis of the liver view our site for what is liver cirrhosis.
A widely used treatment for HE is liquid lactulose which draws fluid from other areas to a person's colon, softening the stool and making your bowels move more often. This alleviates the toxin levels in your intestines by removing them safely and reducing the stress on liver function. The use of lactulose for hepatic encephalopathy is a proven treatment but does create a few minor side effects. One lactulose side effect is loose stools. You may also experience stomach upset, bloating, abdominal discomfort or dehydration.
It is important to get treatment for hepatic encephalopathy promptly to prevent further problems or a greater risk for liver failure.