Scar tissue restricts the flow of blood through your liver. This can cause a build-up of pressure in the vein that takes blood from your gut to your liver(portal vein).This is called portal hypertension. As the pressure increases, the blood tries to find another way back to your heart without going through your liver. It expands veins in the lining of your stomach and oesophagus. These expanded veins(called varices) may bleed slowly, causing anaemia(tiredness and shortness of breath).There is also a risk that they will bleed severely and need emergency treatment. If you have liver cirrhosis, you're more likely to get liver cancer.

Attribution: BUPA

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