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What causes a liver to be enlarged?

Updated: 8/9/2023
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15y ago

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The liver is the largest gland in the body and it is responsible for many functions in the body. Some of these functions include detoxification of the blood and metabolism of glucose.

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9y ago
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15y ago

This is a very broad question. Some causes can be found on this website:

http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003275.htm

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Q: What causes a liver to be enlarged?
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what causes this to enlarge in the liver


What causes an enlarged liver in a junior dog?

Can anyone tell me what could cause an enlarged spleen and liver in a Junior female dog aged 6months?


What is hepatosplenomegaly?

A mildly enlarged liver. Hepat/o = liver megaly= enlarged


Whats wrong when your liver is swollen?

An enlarged liver can be a symptom of different disease, including, viral hepatitis, liver tumors, cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and liver cancer. Some other conditions that may cause an enlarged liver are heart failure and gallbladder obstructions. In medical terms, an enlarged liver is known as hepatomegaly.


What are the symptoms of an enlarged liver?

In most cases there are no symptoms to an enlarged liver. However if your liver does become enlarged you may have a feeling of fullness, abdominal discomfort. You may also have some weight loss.


What will happen when liver size increases?

When the liver size increases, there is usually an illness that causes it. The doctor will try go find the cause and treat it. An enlarged liver is called hepatomegaly. If not treated, it can cause death.


How do you reduce an enlarged liver?

once the liver is enlarged, you will need a doctor's care, this means special diets, no booze and medication


What are the symptoms that occur from a swollen liver?

An enlarged liver may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, tiredness and jaundice. An enlarged liver may not cause any symptoms in some cases. An enlarged liver is not a condition in itself but a symptom of an underlying condition.


Can you die from a enlarged liver?

d


What does enlarged liver mean and what are symptoms for enlarged liver?

An enlarged liver may mean that there you have too much salt in your body and that is the bodies way of getting rid of the excess salt. Your waste passes through the liver as well as the kidneys before exiting so the body is attempting to cleanse itself.


Does the size of the liver affect the body functions?

if the liver is enlarged it is in a state of disease.


Enlarged Liver Symptoms?

The medical term for enlarged liver is: hepatomegaly. The liver swelling beyond the normal size is usually a sign that there are additional problems with liver function, but it can also simply mean that the liver is full of fat deposits. The liver is one of the body's critical organs. It lies on the right side of the abdomen and serves to rid the body of toxins and to produce enzymes that assist with blood clotting. When a doctor examines your body they will palpitate the stomach area and feel for an enlarged liver. Many people have no symptoms associated with an enlarged liver, but some will have a feeling of fullness in their stomach or some stomach discomfort where the liver is located. If that area is sensitive when you press on it, it is likely that you have an enlarged liver. The liver is unique in that it has no nerves and reproduces its own cells up to a point where it begins to dysfunction. This is why it is important to have tests run to determine the reason for the enlarged liver. The discomfort symptoms the patient feels are not coming from the liver, they are coming from other organs in the same area that are being squeezed by the enlargement of the liver. By the time the patient has actual liver symptoms such as jaundice which is yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eye, liver disease has developed. Causes of an enlarged liver can be alcoholism, obesity, diabetes, hepatitis, iron deposits, and side effects of some drugs. An enlarged liver can also develop because of leukemia, liver cancer, tuberculosis, and congestive heart failure. It becomes a major concern because rather than an actual condition, the enlarged liver is more of a symptom of these other diseases. Tests such as x-ray, blood tests, and biopsy will determine what the cause of the enlargement is. The patient can then take action to correct or treat the underlying disease.