Vishnu Prasad, 49, was awaiting liver transplant and had been battling cirrhosis for a long time. (Pic: Instagram/iStock)
Popular Malayalam film and television actor Vishnu Prasad passed away in Kochi after battling last-stage liver cirrhosis. The 49-year-old was undergoing treatment for this serious condin which healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, impairing the liver's function. This scarring can lead to various complications, including liver failure.
According to news reports, Vishnu needed a liver transplant.
Vishnu Prasad's co-star Kishor Satya confirmed the news of his death with a post on social media. “Dear friends, sad news... Vishnu Prasad has passed away. He had been undergoing treatment for an illness for quite some time now. My condolences... I pray that his family gains the strength to bear his untimely demise."
What is liver cirrhosis?
Liver cirrhosis—also known as late-stage liver disease—happens when the healthy tissue from your liver is gradually replaced by scar tissue, which results in long-term, chronic hepatitis. Doctors say hepatitis causes inflammation in your liver—after which your liver attempts to repair itself by scarring. But too much scar tissue prevents your liver from working properly, leading to liver failure.
Cirrhosis blocks the flow of blood and oxygen through your liver tissues—slowing your liver's ability to process your blood, metabolise nutrients, and filter out toxins. It also reduces your liver's ability to produce bile and essential blood proteins.
What causes liver cirrhosis?
Doctors say cirrhosis is a gradual scarring process triggered by chronic inflammation in your liver, which causes:
Alcohol-induced hepatitis
Alcohol is the most well-known cause of liver cirrhosis
Non-alcohol related steatohepatitis
It causes chronic damage from excess fat storage in your liver
Chronic hepatitis C infection
It is a viral infection that becomes chronic in most people
Autoimmune biliary disease
There are a few autoimmune diseases that lead to liver inflammation, including autoimmune hepatitis.
Genetic disorder
Many inherited conditions cause toxic substances to build up in your liver and damage it.
Toxic hepatitis
Long-term exposure to certain environmental toxins or use of certain medications, including over-the-counter painkillers.
Signs and symptoms of liver cirrhosis
Doctors say in the early stages, there are no signs to be noticed, and a few symptoms are so vague that they resemble many other conditions. Symptoms of cirrhosis become more recognisable as your liver function declines. A few of these are:
- Nausea and loss of appetite
-
Fatigue and tiredness
- Pain in the upper abdomen area
- Visible blood vessels that look like spiders
- Redness on the palms of your hands
- Jaundice
- Dark-coloured pee and light-coloured poop.
- Digestive difficulties
- Small yellow bumps of fat deposits on your skin or eyelids.
- Motor dysfunction with twitching and tremors
- Disruptions of menstrual cycle
- Easy bleeding and bruising
- Breathlessness
What are the complications caused by liver cirrhosis?
A few effects of liver cirrhosis include:
- General toxicity
- Reduced immunity, healing, and recovery
- Fluid leakage from your veins which leads to swelling
-
Hormonal imbalances
- Digestion issues
- Cognitive impairment
- Kidney failure
- Respiratory failure
- Liver cancer
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