One of the significant aspects of overall well-being is digestive health, as it primarily affects our body’s ability to process nutrients and eliminate waste. One condition that crucially affects digestive health is portal hypertension, often accompanied by a related condition identified as portal hypertensive gastropathy. Further, in this blog let’s have a close look at what is portal hypertension, how it affects the digestive system, and the implications it has on an individual’s health.
What Is Portal Hypertension?
Portal hypertension is one of the medical conditions characterized by high blood pressure within the portal venous system. In order to better understand it, let’s divide it step by step:
Portal Venous System: This portal venous system is one of the sophisticated networks of veins responsible for carrying blood from different abdominal organs, like the stomach, intestines, spleen, and pancreas, to the liver. The fundamental function of this system is to transfer nutrient-rich blood to the liver for processing and detoxification.
Increased Pressure: In portal hypertension, there will be high pressure in these veins. This increased pressure occurs due to the blood flow encounters resistance as it tries to pass through the liver. This resistance may occur due to several factors, like liver cirrhosis, blood clots, or scarring of the liver tissue.
What Are The Causes of Portal Hypertension?
While the primary portal hypertension cause is cirrhosis, it’s vital to note that there are more factors that can contribute to this condition. These include:
- Blood Clots: Blood clots in the portal vein or its branches can pause the blood flow, and result in high pressure.
- Schistosomiasis: Some parasitic infection may present in certain parts of the world which can also lead to liver damage and portal hypertension.
- Budd-Chiari Syndrome: This is one of the rare conditions that blocks the hepatic veins, which affects the blood flow into the liver.
- Congestive Heart Failure: Heart conditions that affect blood flow can lead to high pressure in the portal vein.
- Portal Vein Thrombosis: Clots formed in the portal vein can lead to portal hypertension.
What Are The Portal Hypertension symptoms?
Often portal hypertension develops without producing noticeable symptoms until it attains the advanced stage. Further, let’s see portal hypertension symptoms, and there maybe variation in severity when the symptoms do appear, and may include:
- Enlarged Spleen: Spleen will be enlarged when there is a high pressure in the portal vein, which leads to abdominal pain or discomfort.
- Ascites: Swelling and discomfort can be caused by the formation of fluid in the abdominal cavity.
- Variceal Bleeding: The increased pressure can cause the growth of enlarged blood vessels in the esophagus and stomach. This varices results in bleeding, further it can also lead to vomiting of blood or black, tarry stools.
- Fatigue: Fatigue and weakness can be caused by low liver function.
- Jaundice: Due to impaired liver function a yellowing of the skin and eye may occur.
- Hepatic Encephalopathy: In advanced cases, toxins that the liver would typically filter out can build up in the bloodstream, resulting in confusion, forgetfulness, and modifications in mental function.
If you are experiencing any of these signs, reach out to portal hypertension treatment.
What Are The Impact of Portal Hypertension On Digestive Health?
Gastrointestinal Bleeding: One of the most complex consequences of portal hypertension is the increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. The high pressure within the portal venous system can cause the veins in the stomach, esophagus, and intestines to dilate and become engorged with blood. These large veins identified as varices, are fragile and prone to rupture, leading to numerous bleeding. General sites for variceal bleeding are in the lower part of the esophagus and the upper part of the stomach.
Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy: Portal hypertensive gastropathy is the following condition that frequently accompanies portal hypertension. It is identified by variations in the lining of the stomach’s mucous membrane due to high pressure within the portal venous system. These changes result in symptoms like nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Ascites: In some cases portal hypertension results in ascites, which is the storage of fluid within the abdominal cavity. High blood pressure in the portal venous system can stimulate the fluid to leak from the blood vessels into the abdominal space. Ascites also result in abdominal distension, discomfort, and difficulty in breathing.
Splenomegaly: A large spleen can trap more number of platelets, minimizes their availability to help with blood clotting. This results in increased risk of bleeding, even from small injuries or procedures.
Hepatic Encephalopathy: As portal hypertension grows, toxins that are typically removed by the liver can build up in the bloodstream. This may lead to hepatic encephalopathy, a condition identified by confusion, forgetfulness, and altered mental function, highly disturbs a person’s quality of life.
What Are The Treatment And Management?
Managing portal hypertension undergoes identifying its root cause and preventing complications. Treatment option include:
- Treating the underlying portal hypertension causes: If portal hypertension is caused by liver disease, concentrating the underlying condition is mandatory. This may involve lifestyle changes, medications, and in some advanced cases, liver transplantation.
- Endoscopic: We can treat varices and reduce the risk of bleeding by endoscopic band and sclerotherapy.
- Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt: This procedure is also referred as TIPS, in some cases a TIPS procedure may be advised to develop a shunt that diverts blood flow away from the liver, lower portal vein pressure.
- Changes in Diet: Consuming low salt and alcohol can assist managing ascites and lowers stress on the liver.
- Consistent Monitoring: Regular monitoring and follow-up with your doctor is crucial to track liver function and assess the progression of portal hypertension.
Final Thoughts:
There is a common thought that portal hypertension is a complex condition that can have a crucial impact on the digestive system. While there are some challenges and potential complications, it’s vital to remember that with consistent medical management and lifestyle changes, people diagnosed with portal hypertension can lead fulfilling lives. Visit the best liver hospital to get timely treatment and care.