14 DAY TRIAL // Researchers in the US say that, having compiled and analyzed data concerning the health of the country's general population, they found that liver cirrhosis is way more common in this part of the world than previously assumed.
Writing in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, they detail that, according to their investigations into the matter at hand, liver cirrhosis affects some 633,000 adults living in the US on a yearly basis.
What's worrying is that, by the looks of it, as many as 69% of the people who have this disease aren't even aware of it. This means that plenty of cirrhosis cases in the country remain undiagnosed.
The scientists behind this investigation explain that, quite often, people who develop liver cirrhosis, which is basically a severe scarring of the liver, display symptoms such as nausea, confusion, swelling, fatigue and jaundice.
Still, it can sometimes happen that folks get the disease but display no symptoms indicating that their liver is in trouble. This is all the more worrying given the fact that cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
It is estimated that, in this day and age, this disease is the 12th leading cause of death overall and the 5th leading cause of death for people between the ages of 45 and 54.
Apparently, liver cirrhosis is more common among men than among women. Besides, specialists say that older people, together with those who are alone or who are experiencing financial difficulties, are more likely to be affected by it.
It is understood that, of the cirrhosis cases documented in the US annually, some 50% need be linked to alcohol abuse, diabetes and hepatitis C, NewsWise informs.