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Portal hypertension develops when the pressure inside the portal vein rises (the vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver). Pressure rises due to a blockage in the liver’s blood flow.
Increased pressure in the portal vein leads large veins (varices) to develop across the esophagus and stomach to pass the obstruction. Bleeding occurs as a result of brittle varices.
Causes of portal hypertension:
There are several causes of portal hypertension, but cirrhosis of the liver is the most common. Cirrhosis is scarring that occurs after a liver injury is healed, whether from hepatitis, alcohol, or other less prevalent causes of liver damage. Cirrhosis occurs when scar tissue inhibits blood flow through the liver.
Symptoms of liver hypertension:
The beginning of portal hypertension isn’t often accompanied by particular symptoms that reveal what’s going on in the liver. However, if you have liver disease that progresses to cirrhosis, you’re more likely to get portal hypertension. Reach out to the portal hypertension treatment in Coimbatore to get the condition recovered.
The major signs and complications of portal hypertension:
Gastrointestinal bleeding: It can be associated with dark and tarry stools or blood in the stool. Rupture and bleeding of varices can cause vomiting of blood.
- Ascites: This is a medical condition that can lead to accumulation fluid in the abdomen.
- Encephalopathy or confused state of mind due to poor functioning of the liver.
- Highly reduced platelet count, platelets play a major role in clotting of blood.
Diagnosis of portal hypertension:
If symptoms aren’t clear, diagnosing portal hypertension can be tricky. Screenings like an intense ultrasound can be beneficial. An ultrasound can indicate the state of the portal vein as well as the flow of blood through it. A CT scan may be useful if an ultrasound is unclear.
A measurement of the flexibility of your liver and surrounding tissue is another screening method that’s getting increasingly popular. When tissue is pushed or probed, elastography is used to determine how it responds. The presence of illness is indicated by a lack of flexibility.
The dietary changes that can be helpful in controlling portal hypertension:
Your liver will work normally if you maintain appropriate food habits and live a healthy lifestyle. The following are some of the things you can do to boost your liver’s function:
Use no alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs.
Do not take any over-the-counter or prescription medications without consulting your best liver transplant surgeon or nurse first. Some drugs can exacerbate liver disease while also interfering with the beneficial effects of other prescription medications.
Follow the dietary recommendations provided by your doctor or nurse. Reduce your sodium (salt) intake by eating a low-sodium (salt) diet. You’ll most likely be limited to no more than 2 grams of salt each day. Only if disorientation is a symptom should you reduce your protein intake.
Your nutritionist will assist you in developing a meal plan that will enable you to adhere to these dietary restrictions.
Managing weight:
The importance of weight in the prevention of hypertension cannot be overstated. Obese people are more likely to acquire hypertension. To maintain an ideal body weight, it is advisable to remove excess body fat. Hypertension is reduced by maintaining a healthy body weight. Reach out to a top rated hospital to undergo shunt surgery for portal hypertension.
Eating a healthy and balanced diet:
Hypertension is caused by a variety of factors, one of which is the consumption of unhealthy foods. You can efficiently manage your blood pressure by eating a healthy and balanced diet. Include a variety of fresh fruits and green vegetables in your diet, particularly those high in potassium. Excess calories, sugar, and fat intake are linked to an increased risk of hypertension.
Regular exercise:
Hypertension is known to be reduced by leading an active lifestyle. Make it a point to participate in some physical activity on a daily basis.
Limiting alcohol intake:
Drinking too much alcohol might elevate your blood pressure. To reduce your risks of developing hypertension, limit your alcohol usage.
Monitoring blood pressure levels:
Maintain a close eye on your blood sugar levels. The majority of the time, hypertension is symptomless. If your blood pressure is between 120 and 139/80 and 89 millimeters of mercury, you are at an increased risk of developing hypertension. A rise in blood pressure necessitates a change in lifestyle and a reduction in food intake. In extreme cases, you can reach out to the best liver transplant surgeon and understand your treatment option.
Managing stress levels:
Excessive anxiety and stress are bad for your blood pressure. Severe stress is known to raise blood pressure, which can lead to a variety of other health problems, including the malfunctioning of vital organs such as the heart and kidneys.
Portal hypertension can be treated through basic treatment like:
Sclerotherapy or banding are two options for endoscopic therapy. Sclerotherapy is a treatment in which a solution is injected into the bleeding varices to halt or reduce bleeding. It is performed by a gastroenterologist. A gastroenterologist employs rubber bands to limit the blood supply to each varix during the banding process (enlarged vein).
To relieve the pressure in your varices and reduce the risk of recurrent bleeding, medications such as beta blockers or nitrates may be recommended alone or in combination with endoscopic therapy.
There are two most common medical procedures that help in minimizing the risks and complications of the condition.
If the medications or the initial portal hypertension treatment fails to manage your variceal bleeding, one of the decompression procedures listed below may be required to relieve the pressure in these veins.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS):
A stent (a tubular device) is implanted in the center of the liver during a radiological treatment.
Distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS):
A portal hypertension surgery that joins the splenic vein to the left kidney vein to relieve pressure and control bleeding in the varices.
Cirrhosis damage cannot be reversed, however portal hypertension can be treated. A healthy lifestyle, drugs, and interventions may all be necessary. Follow-up ultrasounds will be required to assess your liver’s condition and the procedure’s results.
