Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver as a result of long-term, continuous damage to the liver.

It is a serious condition where healthy tissue in the liver is destroyed and replaced by scar tissue, which starts to block the flow of blood through your liver.

Cirrhosis progresses slowly, over many years, gradually causing your liver to stop functioning. This is called liver failure.

The damage caused by cirrhosis is permanent, so cannot be reversed.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS?
In the early stages of cirrhosis, there are very few symptoms. But as your liver loses its ability to function properly, you typically start to experience loss of appetite, nausea and very itchy skin

In the later stages, symptoms can include jaundice, vomiting of blood, dark, tarry stools, and a build-up of fluid in the legs and abdomen.

HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?
The two most common causes of cirrhosis in Ireland are drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and becoming infected with the hepatitis C virus.

Less common causes include hepatitis B infection, an inherited liver disease (such as haemochromatosis), and a condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).