Are You Concerned About Swollen Liver?

Swollen liver is a name sometimes used by the general public for a problem that doctors call enlarged liver or hepatomegaly. The terms swollen liver and enlarged liver are self-explanatory. So the question becomes, why does a liver become swollen, and is it a serious risk to liver health? The goal of this article is to give you answers to those questions.

It should be stated at the start that swollen liver is not a disease itself. It is a sign of some other liver-related problem or condition.

When a liver condition first appears, there are usually no symptoms. This is true of an enlarged liver too. But as the disease that causes the swelling gets worse, signs are likely to show up.

As a rule, a typical liver weighs about 3-4 pounds or 1.5 kg. It is similar to a wedge in shape, and in most normal adults, about the size of a small American football. It is located on the right side of the body near the bottom of the ribs.

Swollen liver is typically due to one or a number of causes. The presence of hepatitis and cirrhosis are among the most common. Hepatitis is usually caused by a virus, but can also be caused by excessive use of alcohol. The other most common cause, cirrhosis, is usually the result of excessive use of alcohol.

Cancer in or around the liver is another common cause, as is a liver infection. Mononucleosis and malaria are among the diseases that cause liver infections.

Fatty liver disease, in which fat accumulates in the liver and damages it, is another common cause of liver swelling.

The initial step for treating swollen liver is to identify the root of the problem. If a swollen liver has been caused by cancer or an infection, your doctor will undoubtedly want to deal with these disorders right away.

When cirrhosis resulting from too much alcohol or alcoholic hepatitis is the cause, all use of alcohol must cease immediately. If a swollen liver is not linked to the use of alcohol or a liver-related disease, your doctor will probably ask that you make some lifestyle changes. Diet and exercise are helpful in both treatment and prevention of a swollen liver.

If you think you are at risk for liver swelling, there are some recommendations for helping you avoid it.

If you drink alcohol consistently, either lower your consumption or stop completely. If you don't stop completely, never to take medicine at the same time. Doing so may irreparably damage the liver.

Never take drugs or supplements unless they are approved by your doctor, and always take the recommended doses. Also ask your doctor before you take herbal supplements you have not taken before. Certain supplements can damage the liver. You should also take great care with vitamins because some vitamin combinations can hurt the liver.

Be doubly careful around cleaning materials, bug sprays and other chemicals. If you work with such materials, make sure that you are in a place that's well-ventilated. Some common chemicals and cleaning materials may be especially risky for the liver.