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Enlarged Liver Information

According to the Mayo Clinic, your liver should be the size of a football. If it isn't, then something is wrong. An enlarged liver, in and of itself, is a symptom of a problem and is not the actual problem. Until the cause of the enlarged liver is found, no treatment can begin. Some conditions that can cause an enlarged liver are hepatitis, cancer and congestive heart failure.

  1. Symptoms

    • An enlarged liver, according to the Mayo Clinic, presents no symptoms unless it enlarged rapidly, in which case it can produce tenderness in the area, abdominal pain or distension or jaundice, This condition is called hepatomegaly. If the liver function is affected by the condition that is causing the enlargement, you may get jaundice, a condition that will turn the skin and the whites of the eyes, yellow.

    Causes

    • Some other possible causes are alcohol abuse, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, mononucleosis, excessive iron in the body or leukemia. Many causes of enlarged liver are preventable, as they are the result of lifestyle rather than genetics. Excessive alcohol use, any activity that puts you at risk of contracting hepatitis and obesity are, for the most part, the result of lifestyle choices. If the lifestyle choices are changed, the risk factor disappears.

    Diagnosis

    • An enlarged liver can be felt during a normal physical exam when a doctor palpates the abdomen. There are many characteristics of the liver that a physician can determine without doing any tests, such as the size, texture and whether or not there are lumps. Depending on the findings, he may recommend more tests.

    Lifestyle Changes

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, if you drink, stop drinking. You can't reverse the damage already done, but you can prevent future damage. If you have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and you are overweight, lose weight and watch your cholesterol. Also, monitor your blood sugar carefully if you are diabetic.

    Other Treatments

    • If your liver was damaged due to hepatitis, you may need a liver transplant. If you have a heart problem, the medication your doctor prescribes should help lower the extra fluid in your liver. If you have excessive iron in your blood, your doctor may regularly draw your blood to reduce the amount of iron.

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