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Health A to Z: Cirrhosis

Find out about cirrhosis, including what the symptoms are, who's more likely to have it and treatments.

Many people who have cirrhosis do not have symptoms, especially early on.

Early symptoms of cirrhosis may include:

  • feeling tired or unwell all the time
  • loss of appetite or losing weight without trying
  • feeling or being sick
  • tummy pain
  • visible blood vessels on the skin
  • blotchy red palms of the hands – the redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin

As cirrhosis gets worse, you may have other symptoms including:

  • bleeding or bruising easily
  • itchy skin
  • changes to your fingers, such as them getting wider and curved (clubbed), or white nails
  • yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) – yellowing of the skin may be harder to see on brown or black skin
  • swollen tummy, legs, ankles or feet
  • trembling hands
  • slurred speech
  • feeling confused or difficulty concentrating
  • vomiting blood
  • very dark or black poo

Men may also have bigger breasts than usual (gynaecomastia) or their testicles may get smaller.

Cirrhosis is caused by long-term damage to your liver.

You may be more likely to have cirrhosis if you:

See a GP if:

  • you think you might have cirrhosis

How serious cirrhosis is depends on things like what's causing it and how early it's diagnosed and treated.

Many people with cirrhosis can feel well and live for many years. But it can cause complications which can be serious or life-threatening.

Complications include:

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

You've been diagnosed with cirrhosis and:

  • your skin or the white part of your eyes look yellow
  • you have difficulty breathing – you may be more short of breath than usual
  • you have a swollen tummy, legs, ankles or feet

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

You've been diagnosed with cirrhosis and:

  • you're vomiting blood
  • your poo is very dark or black
  • you suddenly become confused or have slurred speech
Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

Cirrhosis cannot be cured, but there are treatments that can help slow it down or stop it getting worse.

This usually involves treating the cause, for example, antiviral medicines if it's caused by hepatitis B or C.

You usually also have treatment to help prevent and treat complications of cirrhosis. This may include:

  • laxative medicine to help remove toxins from your body
  • medicines such as beta blockers to reduce bleeding
  • medicine to make you pee more and help reduce swelling
  • antibiotics to help treat or prevent infections and treat internal bleeding
  • treatment for weakened bones
  • a liver transplant, if your cirrhosis is very severe

It's also strongly recommended to make healthy lifestyle changes, including to stop drinking alcohol.

You'll be supported by different healthcare professionals. This may include a liver specialist (hepatologist), digestive system specialist (gastroenterologist), nutrition specialists (nutritionist or dietician), and alcohol support services.

Find out more

There are some things you can do that may help stop your cirrhosis getting worse and help you to stay healthy.

Do

Don't

  • do not drink alcohol

  • do not smoke

NHS help to get healthy

NHS Better Health has free tools and support to help you drink less, lose weight, get active and quit smoking.

Visit the NHS Better Health website

If you have cirrhosis, you will be supported by a group of specialists.

There are also national charities that offer support and information about cirrhosis.

British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust provides information and support for anyone affected by liver disease.

Content supplied by the NHS website

Page last reviewed: 21/02/2025