The liver is by no means the last important organ in the human body, since it depends on its condition how well all the systems of our body will perform their functions. This organ can be compared with a real chemical laboratory, in which vitamins, bile and hormones are produced. It is when passing through the liver that the blood gets rid of all possible toxins.
Any problems with the liver immediately affect the condition of the whole organism. At that moment, when the liver ceases to cope with the functions assigned to it, it begins to immediately increase or decrease in size. The structure of the liver also begins to change, blood circulation in it slows down, and bile stasis can form . Due to liver problems, toxins begin to accumulate in the body, as the blood stops to cleanse, the metabolism slows down, and the person begins to feel bad.
Hepatomegaly - the so-called enlargement of the liver. The reasons for this may be different, but regardless of them, this is always a very alarming symptom. This symptom of the disease indicates that urgent measures must be taken to restore health. After all, an increase in the liver can lead to liver failure. And this disease often leads to death.
Enlarged liver: symptoms
As a rule, it is almost impossible to detect a slight increase without a clinical examination, since it is not associated with any symptoms: neither pain, nor discomfort. Diagnosis in this case is difficult.
A larger liver enlargement causes a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, which will constantly haunt the person. Other important symptoms of hepatomegaly include:
- jaundice;
- weight loss;
- nausea;
- weakness and constant fatigue.
A liver enlargement can be detected by a doctor even without analysis during the most common medical examination at the reception, but the causes of the disease can be clarified by biopsy, test results, ultrasound and other things. Trying to figure out something on your own is not recommended.
Enlarged liver: causes
The reasons here may be as follows:
- drugs (there is nothing surprising here, since it is the liver that fights with the dangerous substances in them);
- various autoimmune diseases ;
- genetic disorders;
- toxins;
- metabolic syndrome;
- tumors, as well as cysts;
- heart failure;
- blocking veins in the liver.
There may also be many other reasons for its increase.
Alcoholics are constantly suffering from hepatomegaly, since the liver of a person who is constantly abusing alcohol daily has to endure loads several times higher than normal. Several years of such a life can lead to the fact that the body in question does not just suffer, but refuses to work at all.
Enlarged liver: treatment
The whole healing process boils down to eliminating the causes that led to hepatomegaly. In any case, the patient will have to follow many different diets, since for a quick recovery he needs to eat only low-fat foods, in which there are no hard-to-digest carbons. It is also worth noting that food should not only be safe, but also as useful as possible. Of course, alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Medications should be taken only those prescribed by the doctor, as the wrong approach to treatment can cost you very, very expensive. In extreme cases, hospitalization of the patient is also possible.
Some try to treat liver enlargement with folk remedies. This is sometimes quite effective, but you can resort to "grandmother" recipes only when the problem is small.