What is an enlarged liver?
An enlarged liver is swollen on the far side of its traditional size. attainable causes embody cancer and excessive alcohol consumption. Symptoms, once they seem, embody jaundice (yellowing of the skin) and pain within the higher abdomen. Treatment depends on what's inflicting the liver enlargement.
The liver is a vital organ in several of the body’s functions. Associate degree enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) is swollen on the far side of its traditional size for any reason.
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An enlarged liver may be a symptom of associate degree underlying downside, however isn't a malady itself. an associate degree enlarged liver could occur beside different symptoms, looking at the underlying malady that's inflicting it.
Medical terms
An enlarged liver is one that is larger than traditional. The medical term is abnormal condition (hep-uh-toe-MEG-uh-le).
Rather than a malady, an associate degree enlarged liver could be a sign of associate degree underlying drawback, like disease, symptom, heart condition or cancer. Treatment involves distinguishing and dominating the explanation for the condition.
Symptoms Enlarged liver
An enlarged liver typically doesn't cause any symptoms. Doctors typically discover it once treating a patient for an additional, unrelated condition.
An enlarged liver may not cause symptoms.
When enlarged liver results from disease, it would be accompanied by:
Abdominal pain
Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
When to see a doctor
Make a briefing along with your doctor if you've got symptoms that worry you.
Causes Enlarged liver
Several diseases or conditions will cause the liver to enlarge. For a few folks, an enlarged liver results from overwhelming too many toxins, together with alcohol, medications like anodyne (Tylenol®) or supplements. Semi permanent exposure to high doses of hepatotoxic substances (including alcohol), medications or supplements will cause cirrhosis of the liver (scarring) of the liver.
Cancers, together with carcinoma or cancer from different organs metastasizing (spreading) to the liver, particularly carcinoma, carcinoma and carcinoma
Benign (non-cancerous) liver tumors
Blood flow from the center as a results of symptom heart disease or different diseases poignant the valves of the center
Budd-Chiari syndrome (blood clots within the blood vessels that drain the liver)
Recurrent alcohol use inflicting inflammation of the liver
Excess fat within the liver, typically as a results of blubber, alcohol use or polygenic disease
Genetic (inherited) disorders that cause fatty or sugary substances to create up within the liver, like Gaucher malady and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Polycystic disease (several benign cysts within the liver)
Acute liver disease of physiological state (abnormal fat accumulation within the liver throughout pregnancy)
The liver could be a giant, football-shaped organ found within the higher right portion of your abdomen. The scale of the liver varies with age, sex and body size. several conditions will cause it to enlarge, including:
Liver diseases
Cirrhosis
Hepatitis caused by a virus — including hepatitis A, B and C — or caused by infectious mononucleosis
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Alcoholic fatty liver disease
A disorder that causes abnormal protein to accumulate in your liver (amyloidosis)
A genetic disorder that causes copper to accumulate in your liver (Wilson's disease)
A disorder that causes iron to accumulate in your liver (hemochromatosis)
A disorder that causes fatty substances to accumulate in your liver (Gaucher's disease)
Fluid-filled pockets in the liver (liver cysts)
Non Cancerous liver tumors, including hemangioma and adenoma
Obstruction of the gallbladder or bile ducts
Toxic hepatitis
Cancers
Cancer that begins in another part of the body and spreads to the liver
Leukemia
Liver cancer
Lymphoma
Heart and blood vessel problems
Blockage of the veins that drain the liver (Budd-Chiari syndrome)
Heart failure
Inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart (pericarditis)
Risk factors Enlarged liver
You're likely to develop an enlarged liver if you have a disease. Factors that may increase your risk of liver issues include:
Excessive alcohol use. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can be damaging to your liver.
- Large doses of medicines, vitamins or supplements. Taking larger than counseled doses of vitamins, supplements, or over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicines will increase your risk of liver injury.Acetaminophen dose is the commonest reason behind acute liver failure within the u. s.. Besides being the ingredient in unlisted pain relievers like Panadol, it's in addition to 600 medications, each unlisted and prescription.Know what is within the medications you're taking. browse labels. search for "acetaminophen," "acetam" or "APAP." refer to your doctor if you are not certain what is an excessive amount of.
Herbal supplements. Certain supplements, including black cohosh, ma huang and valerian, can increase your risk of liver damage.
Infections. Infectious diseases, viral, bacterial or parasitic, can increase your risk of liver damage.
Hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis A, B and C can cause liver damage.
Poor eating habits. Being overweight will increase your risk of disease, as will uptake unhealthy foods, like those with excess fat or sugar.
Can an enlarged liver be reversed?
An enlarged liver is one that becomes abnormally large. This condition has a number of possible causes ranging from cirrhosis caused by alcoholism to fatty liver disease which may be caused by an unhealthy diet In certain cases an enlarged liver can lead to life-threatening complications and must be treated with medications or surgery.
Can you live with an enlarged liver?
Yes But you should monitor it regularly Some people with chronic hepatitis C have an enlarged liver when they're first diagnosed but this is just one of the many symptoms associated with the disease In fact many people who are infected don't exhibit any symptoms for decades after contracting the virus If your doctor does find that you have an enlarged liver she'll ask about your medical history and do a physical exam to check for other potential causes of this enlargement like gallstones or a tumor While the condition isn't life-threatening on its own and doesn't cause pain or discomfort it's important to treat it as soon.
What can I eat to shrink my liver?
If you have a fatty liver there are some foods that can help to shrink it Follow this diet plan outline to lose weight and fight back against fatty liver disease:
Enlarged liver and spleen symptoms are common in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease The condition can cause pain tenderness, heaviness and a feeling of fullness in the upper-right abdomen as well as fatigue nausea loss of appetite and jaundice -- yellowing of the skin or eyes.
If you have excess fat in your liver then the first thing is to keep a check on that You need to lose weight eat healthy and exercise regularly Overweight can make some other conditions worse as well Another at home treatment for enlarged liver is turmeric powder with milk It has anti-inflammatory effect which helps treat the swelling of fatty tissues and water retention in the body This is also known as adipose tissue accumulation or edema To prepare this tea add one teaspoon of turmeric powder in warm milk and drink it two times a day for about two weeks and see results This will relieve pain from swollen.
Prevention Enlarged liver
To reduce your risk of liver disease, you can:
Eat a healthy diet. Choose a diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Check with your doctor to find out what's the right amount of alcohol for you, if any.
Follow directions when taking medications, vitamins or supplements. Limit yourself to the recommended doses.
Limit contact with chemicals. Use aerosol cleaners, insecticides and other toxic chemicals only in well-ventilated areas. Wear gloves, long sleeves and a mask.
Maintain a healthy weight. Eat a diet and limit foods that are high in sugar and fat. If you are overweight, raise your doctor or a dietitian regarding the simplest method for you to slenderize.
Quit smoking. Ask your doctor about strategies to help you quit.
- Use supplements with caution. Talk along with your doctor concerning the risks and advantages of seasoning supplements before you are taking them. Some medicine treatments will damage your liver.Herbs and supplements to avoid embody bugbane, ma huang and alternative Chinese herbs, comfrey, germander, swallowwort, kava, pennyroyal, skullcap, and flower.
Diagnosis Enlarged liver
A doctor will diagnose an Associate in Nursing enlarged liver with a physical examination and imaging tests, like CT scan, ultrasound or tomography. The doctor can possibly order some blood tests to work out what's inflicting the liver enlargement. In some cases, a liver diagnostic test (a little sample of the liver to be examined beneath the microscope) may be required.
Your doctor may begin by feeling your abdomen throughout a physical test to work out liver size, form and texture. but this won't be enough to diagnose an Associate in Nursing enlarged liver.
Additional procedures
If your doctor suspects you've got associate enlarged liver, he or she would possibly suggest alternative tests and procedures, including:
Blood tests. A blood sample is tested to determine liver enzyme levels and identify viruses that can cause enlarged liver.
Imaging tests. Imaging tests include CT scan, ultrasound or MRI.
Magnetic resonance elastography uses sound waves to form a visible map (elastogram) of the stiffness of liver tissue. This noninvasive check may be another to a liver diagnostic assay.
Removing a sample of liver tissue for testing (liver biopsy). A liver diagnostic assay is commonly done employing a long, skinny needle that is inserted through your skin and into your liver. The needle attracts out a core of tissue that's then sent to a laboratory for testing.
Treatment Enlarged liver
Treatment for enlarged liver involves treating the condition that is inflicting it.
Treatment for AN enlarged liver depends on what's inflicting it. Way changes will facilitate once the liver enlargement may be a result of fat accumulation within the liver or intense alcohol. way changes include:
Losing weight
Cutting back or eliminating alcohol
Eating a healthy diet
Increasing exercise and physical activity
Treatment for other causes of liver enlargement depends on the underlying disease that caused it.
Preparing for your appointment
You're able to start out by seeing your medical aid doctor. If your doctor suspects you've got an enlarged liver, he or she could possibly refer you to the acceptable specialist once testing to see the cause.
If you've got a disease, you could possibly be brought up by a specialist in liver issues (hepatologist).
Here's info to assist you make preparations for your appointment.
What you can do
When you build the appointment, raise if there is something you would like to try to do ahead, like abstinence before having a particular check. build an inventory of:
Your symptoms, including ones that seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment and when they began
A list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you take, including doses
Questions to ask your doctor
Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information you're given.
For enlarged liver some questions to ask your doctor include:
What's likely causing my symptoms?
What tests do I need?
Is my condition likely temporary or long lasting?
What's the best course of action?
What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
Are there restrictions I need to follow?
Should I see a specialist?
Will I need follow-up visits?
Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you recommend?
General summary
Elevated liver enzymes are common in pregnancy and pose no true health risks to either mother or child The majority of the time they return to normal following delivery However if elevated liver enzymes persist beyond six weeks following delivery or begin affecting other blood tests your doctor may order additional blood work