What is a common cause of cirrhosis in patients?

Cirrhosis is a progressive liver disease that can result from various factors, but one of the most common causes is chronic alcohol use. Alcohol can lead to liver inflammation, fatty liver, and eventually fibrosis and cirrhosis as the liver is unable to process and detoxify the harmful effects of excessive alcohol intake. Over time, this damage accumulates, leading to scarring of the liver tissue and impaired liver function.

In contrast, while hypertension and hyperthyroidism can have significant health impacts, they are not direct causes of cirrhosis. Sickle cell disease primarily affects the blood and can lead to other complications but is also not a common cause of cirrhosis. Chronic liver damage and conditions that lead to continuous liver injury are more directly associated with the development of cirrhosis, making alcohol use a significant and prevalent factor.