Cirrhosis of the liver kills about 26,000 people each year, making it the 12th leading cause of death by disease. In a person who has cirrhosis, large areas of the liver become very badly scarred. This scar tissue blocks the flow of blood through the liver and prevents it from working correctly. Cirrhosis can occur as a result of many long-term liver diseases, such as different types of hepatitis or medical conditions people are born with. However, cirrhosis can also be caused by things such as infections, drug and/or alcohol abuse, or a blocked bile duct. The treatment for cirrhosis depends on the cause of the cirrhosis and the other problems a person is experiencing.