Did you feel like your liver was enlarged? These sensations may be the first sign of any disease of this organ. There is a whole list of diseases in which the liver changes its size and structure - these are types of hepatitis, cirrhosis, cysts, tumors and many others. Seventy-five percent of patients with cirrhosis have an enlarged liver, often this symptom manifests itself in chronic hepatitis. A rapid enlargement of the liver is a sign of a malignant tumor, less often - chronic hepatitis. If you feel atypical sensations in the region of the liver (the presence of gravity, an increase in the volume of the liver, etc.), this should be taken seriously - perhaps this feeling occurred to you because of some kind of violation. And any liver pathology is fraught with consequences for the whole organism. Why? To answer this question, let's first look at how the liver functions.
In fact, the liver is a living laboratory where various biochemical processes are constantly taking place. This is the disposal of toxins, their decomposition into components, the production of glucose, certain vitamins and a number of other, no less important processes, including participation in digestion. If the liver is affected by any disease, then the intensity of the reactions occurring in it may decrease. For example: if the liver does not cope with one of its most important functions - detoxification of the body, then harmful toxic substances will freely enter various systems and organs, destroying their structure, causing new diseases, worsening the human condition. However, liver disease does not necessarily increase.
Typically, the liver is enlarged for the following reasons: viruses, a fixed way of life, unhealthy diet, an excess of toxins in the body, frequent intake of large amounts of alcoholic beverages, and some genetic factors. These are the main reasons for the increase in this organ (hepatomegaly). The above factors can cause diseases in which such a pathology is observed. However, some of them can be excluded. Usually the patient does not complain of any pain if the liver is enlarged slightly. However, as this anomaly develops, he feels heaviness in his stomach. This liver pathology may be accompanied by symptoms such as persistent weakness, nausea, and sometimes jaundice. With these signs of the disease, accompanied by a feeling of weight in the corresponding region of the abdomen (or other atypical sensations), you should consult a gastroenterologist.
Some of the causes of liver enlargement can be ruled out by eating a healthy diet to avoid liver overload. To do this, you need to take food in a measured manner, not to overeat, it is better to exclude from the diet all unnatural products, especially those containing dyes, preservatives and other synthetic substances. It has been proven that it is better to eat 5-6 times a day, but in small portions than to eat heartily three times. And, of course, you should refrain from drinking strong drinks. Actually, this is all we can do to keep our liver healthy.
However, as mentioned above, a change in liver volume can have many causes. Therefore, if you feel as if the liver is enlarged or there is some kind of pressure in this area, go through the examination. The doctor palpates the liver, determining its density, size, shape. If the organ is enlarged, the patient often experiences pain during palpation. In general, palpation results can tell a lot. If the liver is enlarged due to accumulation of blood, fatty infiltration and the onset of obstruction of the bile ducts - in this case it is as if soft to the touch. If the pathology occurred due to cirrhosis, in this case the organ becomes solid and has an irregular shape. It is very important to pay attention to the edges of the liver, carrying out palpation. If its edges are hard and sharp at the same time, this is a possible sign of cirrhosis, tumors, or amyloidosis.
Diagnose liver problems using ultrasound, computed tomography, and laboratory tests. Having found out the reason why the liver is enlarged, the gastroenterologist prescribes the appropriate treatment. In many cases, it occurs in a hospital.