What is the most common cause of cirrhosis?

The most common cause of cirrhosis is indeed alcoholism. Chronic alcohol consumption leads to liver damage over time, prompting inflammation and eventual scarring, or fibrosis, of liver tissue. This progressive deterioration of liver cells reduces the organ's ability to function normally, ultimately resulting in cirrhosis. Alcohol-related liver disease is well-documented in medical literature, with heavy and prolonged drinking being a major risk factor for the development of cirrhosis.

While other factors like hepatitis B, obesity, and various viral infections can also contribute to liver damage and cirrhosis, they are generally less prevalent as primary causes compared to alcohol misuse. Hepatitis B, for example, is significant but not as universally impactful as alcoholism in the general population, especially in regions where alcohol use is more prevalent. Similarly, obesity contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a separate pathway to cirrhosis that is increasingly common but still typically secondary to the effects of alcohol on the liver.