my sister has cirrhosis of the liver and was bleeding internally due to esophageal varicies back in Jan, she had stopped drinking and smoking, but recently has started smoking again, she is having a hard time giving up smoking and drinking, i know smoking is bad in general, but I believe her bleeding was due to the drinking, will a couple of cigs bring on the bleeding again???? Just wondering???
Thanks for contacting Chat Doctor. Cirrhosis of liver leads to formation of esophageal varices which bleed profusely Alcohol is a known cause of liver cirrhosis. Also in liver cirrhosis clotting is impaired so bleeding is difficult to stop. Smoking also leads to bleeding peptic ulcers. So your sister had all the ingredients for bleeding. Peptic ulcer can be corrected by treatment and esophageal varices can be managed by chemotherapy or banding. But relapse can occur. Cirrhosis is an irreversible process, so she needs to avoid smoking and alcohol at all cost. Regards