Liver Health Life Expectancy With Cirrhosis of the Liver: What to Expect Certain Risk Factors Can Affect Life Expectancy By Buddy T Updated on May 30, 2023 Medically reviewed by Phoowanai Ektheerachaisakul, RDN Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is Cirrhosis? Life Expectancy Treatments Living With Cirrhosis People with cirrhosis of the liver have a life expectancy of between two and 12 years. If you have early-stage cirrhosis, treatment and lifestyle changes can help you live longer. People with advanced cirrhosis of the liver have a much shorter life expectancy. This article looks at survival rates and life expectancy for people with cirrhosis of the liver. It also discusses symptoms and treatment for this condition. Verywell / Emily Roberts What Is Cirrhosis of the Liver? Cirrhosis of the liver occurs when healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. This happens when the liver is inflamed and swollen for long periods of time. Cirrhosis of the liver is the last stage of alcoholic liver disease. Cirrhosis can also happen in people who don't drink alcohol. Over time, chronic viral hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis of the liver. Other conditions such as obesity, high cholesterol, and bile duct disease can also lead to cirrhosis. Healthcare providers classify cirrhosis of the liver as either compensated or decompensated. Compensated cirrhosis is considered early stage, and decompensated cirrhosis is considered late stage. People with compensated cirrhosis don't usually have symptoms. If you have decompensated cirrhosis, you are more likely to experience symptoms and complications such as: Nausea and loss of appetite Fatigue Abdominal pain Weight loss Itching Spider-like blood vessels Bleeding and bruising Swelling of the legs Swelling of the abdomen Jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes Brain and nervous system problems such as memory problems, numbness in extremities, and fainting Pain increases as the disease progresses and you may feel pain beyond the abdomen as cirrhosis causes inflammation throughout the body. Hepatitis and Cirrhosis Similarities and Differences Life Expectancy Life expectancy with cirrhosis of the liver depends on the stage at diagnosis and the steps you and your healthcare provider take to treat and manage the condition. People with compensated cirrhosis of the liver generally have a life expectancy of between 9 and 12 years, especially with lifestyle changes to help improve the liver's health. People with decompensated cirrhosis tend to have a much shorter life expectancy of around two years. Some of the variables that can influence your life expectancy include: Your ageAlcohol useIf you have any other medical conditions such as heart or kidney diseaseIf you are overweight or obeseIf you are malnourished The amount of time you have to live after your diagnosis depends on your health and how far the disease has progressed. If you have alcoholic liver disease, one of the most important things you can do to increase your lifespan is to quit drinking. Why Cirrhosis of the Liver Threatens Heavy Drinkers Treatments If you have cirrhosis of the liver, there are things you can do to help treat the condition and improve your life expectancy. The most important thing you can do is treat the cause of the condition. If you have alcoholic liver disease, for example, stop drinking alcohol. If you are alcohol-dependent, you may need professional treatment to break your addiction. If your condition is caused by viral hepatitis, antiviral medication can prevent additional damage to your liver. Other treatments include: Medications such as beta-blockers and diuretics to help control symptoms Getting plenty of exercise Reducing your weight Quitting smoking Making sure you're getting the right nutrients For some people, a liver transplant may be necessary Living With Cirrhosis of the Liver Cirrhosis of the liver can't be reversed, but it is possible to slow or stop its progression. If you have risk factors for cirrhosis of the liver, it's important to see a healthcare provider regularly so the condition can be diagnosed early. Early diagnosis, treatment, and management can prolong your life for many years. Quitting alcohol, losing weight, and adopting a healthy lifestyle are the best things you can do while living with cirrhosis of the liver. Make sure to see your healthcare provider regularly. If your condition progresses, talk with your healthcare provider about the possibility of a liver transplant. Summary Cirrhosis of the liver is a scarring of the liver that happens after many years of swelling and inflammation. It can have a number of possible causes, including long-term alcohol consumption and viral hepatitis. Life expectancy with cirrhosis of the liver depends on whether you are in the early or late stage of the disease. People in the early stage of the disease may live between nine and 12 years, while people in the late stages may only live two years. You can help extend your life expectancy by treating the underlying cause of your condition. If you drink, quit. If you have viral hepatitis, antiviral medications can prevent further liver damage. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and losing weight are some of the other things you can do to slow progression of the disease and live a longer, healthier life. 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Singal AK, Bataller R, Ahn J, Kamath PS, Shah VH. ACG clinical guideline: alcoholic liver disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(2):175-194. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.469 Shetty A, Jun Yum J, Saab S. The gastroenterologist's guide to preventive management of compensated cirrhosis. Gastroenterol Hepatol (NY). 2019;15(8):423-430 Charatcharoenwitthaya P, Soonthornworasiri N, Karaketklang K, et al. Factors affecting mortality and resource use for hospitalized patients with cirrhosis: A population-based study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(32):e7782. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000007782 Schiavo L, Busetto L, Cesaretti M, Zelber-Sagi S, Deutsch L, Iannelli A. Nutritional issues in patients with obesity and cirrhosis. World J Gastroenterol. 2018;24(30):3330-3346. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i30.3330 Additional Reading Fairbanks KD. Alcoholic liver disease. Cleveland Clinic. MedlinePlus. Alcoholic liver disease. By Buddy T Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit