An enlarged liver is a diseased liver
A medical term for a liver that is larger than normal is hepatomegaly. This condition may be a manifestation of different diseases developing in the body.1
When the liver becomes enlarged it compresses the surrounding organs and bowels and distends its surrounding hepatic capsule, which may cause pain. The liver itself does not generate pain because there are no nerves in it.1
What are the causes of liver enlargement?
The liver becomes enlarged when it is affected by a disease. The principal causes of its enlargement which may result in “liver pain” include:
Lifestyle: 2
Excessive alcohol consumption, daily alcohol consumption (even a small quantity consumed daily may lead to alcoholic liver disease)
Overeating and fatty, heavy meals (especially when your liver is not accustomed to digesting heavy foods).
Eating too much sugar and sweets, especially sugary drinks.
Long-term or high-dose intake of certain medicines.
Most common liver diseases:
How is hepatic enlargement detected?
The initial symptoms of liver disorders are often non-specific or such disorders are initially asymptomatic. For this reason, the disease can be missed, especially in its early stages. Even a liver that has become enlarged may give no symptoms. However, when this condition is a results of a liver disease it may be accompanied by:1,2
Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Yellowing of the skin and eye whites (jaundice)
Abdominal pain
How is hepatic enlargement diagnosed?
Each condition where the liver is enlarged requires a diagnostic work-up. The basic diagnostic test in such a case is an imaging examination – ultrasound scan of the abdominal cavity.1
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Choose the right pack size to fit your needs and find about the differences between Phospholipids (Essentiale Forte P). 50s and Phospholipids (Essentiale Forte P). 10s
Phospholipids (Essentiale Forte P) 10s
CLINICAL PARTICULARS
Indications
Nutritional support in the management of damaged liver (due to chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver & intoxication by hepatotoxic substances). Each hard gelatin capsule contains: De-oiled enriched phospholipids from soya-beans …………… 300 mg
Phospholipids (Essentiale Forte P) 50s
CLINICAL PARTICULARS
Indications
Nutritional support in the management of damaged liver (due to chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver & intoxication by hepatotoxic substances). Each hard gelatin capsule contains: De-oiled enriched phospholipids from soya-beans …………… 300 mg
Learn more about the most common liver diseases
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
NAFLD, named new epidemic of the 21st century, is caused by factors other than excessive alcohol consumption.
Alcoholic liver disease
The prevalence of liver diseases is clearly linked to drinking habits – when alcohol is consumed regularly and in excess, the liver is doomed to fail.
Hepatitis B and C
Viral hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) are the most common viruses in Poland causing acute or chronic hepatitis.
Cirrhosis
Some causes of cirrhosis of the liver can be classified as external - they have to do with our lifestyle or treatment that causes irreversible liver damage.
Autoimmune hepatitis
Autoimmune diseases can be compared to self-sabotage – it is a situation in which your body starts attacking its own tissues. In AIH, the immune system attacks hepatocytes, which are liver cells.
Drug-induced liver injury
The mechanisms for the development of DILI are not fully understood, but it is most likely that the disease is the result of an interaction between the substance and the individual factors of the person.