Is an enlarged liver life threatening?

In some cases, an enlarged liver may be caused by a serious or life threatening condition.
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Is enlarged liver a serious condition?

An enlarged liver is one that's bigger than normal. The medical term is hepatomegaly (hep-uh-toe-MEG-uh-le). Rather than a disease, an enlarged liver is a sign of an underlying problem, such as liver disease, congestive heart failure or cancer. Treatment involves identifying and controlling the cause of the condition.
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Can you live with enlarged liver?

If your enlarged liver is the result of an acute condition, treating the condition will allow your liver to heal. If it's the result of chronic liver disease, it can potentially be reversed and in some cases cured with lifestyle changes.
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How long does it take for an enlarged liver to return to normal?

Treatment typically takes 12–24 weeks , depending on the extent of the liver damage. Hepatitis D: People with hepatitis D require treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha.
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How is enlarged liver treated?

Your treatment options depend upon the underlying disorders that cause your liver enlargement. Some of the treatments your doctor will recommend may include: medications and treatments for liver failure or infections like hepatitis C. chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation for liver cancer.
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What You Need To Know About The Potentially Life-Threatening Liver Disease NASH



What is the most common cause of an enlarged liver?

Common causes of enlarged liver include: drinking alcohol in excess and frequently. cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) infections, including hepatitis.
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What could cause a enlarged liver?

An enlarged liver is one that's bigger than normal. The medical term is hepatomegaly (hep-uh-toe-MEG-uh-le). Rather than a disease, an enlarged liver is a sign of an underlying problem, such as liver disease, congestive heart failure or cancer. Treatment involves identifying and controlling the cause of the condition.
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What are signs that your liver is struggling?

Some signs your liver may be struggling are:
  • Fatigue and tiredness. ...
  • Nausea (feeling sick). ...
  • Pale stools. ...
  • Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice). ...
  • Spider naevi (small spider-shaped arteries that appear in clusters on the skin). ...
  • Bruising easily. ...
  • Reddened palms (palmar erythema). ...
  • Dark urine.
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How do you reverse an enlarged liver?

If you have NASH, no medication is available to reverse the fat buildup in your liver. In some cases, the liver damage stops or even reverses itself. But in others, the disease continues to progress. If you have NASH, it's important to control any conditions that may contribute to fatty liver disease.
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What is considered an enlarged liver?

Hepatomegaly is a condition in which the liver is enlarged, generally greater than 15 centimeters in the midclavicular line. However, normal liver size varies by person depending on the person's sex, age, height, weight, and body size.
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What medications can cause enlarged liver?

In severe cases, drug-induced fatty liver can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Drugs reported to cause fatty liver include total parenteral nutrition, methotrexate (Rheumatrex), griseofulvin (Grifulvin V), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), steroids, valproate (Depakote), and amiodarone (Cordarone).
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What does an inflamed liver feel like?

Symptoms of an inflamed liver can include: Feelings of fatigue. Jaundice (a condition that causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow) Feeling full quickly after a meal.
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Can liver inflammation go away?

If you're diagnosed when some scar tissue has already formed, your liver can repair and even regenerate itself. Because of this, damage from liver disease can often be reversed with a well-managed treatment plan. Many people with liver disease do not look or feel sick even though damage is happening to their liver.
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What are the 3 signs of a fatty liver?

Symptoms
  • Abdominal swelling (ascites)
  • Enlarged blood vessels just beneath the skin's surface.
  • Enlarged spleen.
  • Red palms.
  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
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Can fatty liver disease cause sudden death?

Is Fatty Liver a Cause of Death? Fatty liver has been reported as a cause of sudden death (54). In a study of alcohol-related deaths from Baltimore examined between 1957 and 1966, fatty liver and cirrhosis were noted to have increased as a cause of death (55).
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Does a fatty liver make your stomach bigger?

We conclude that fat infiltration of the liver is well correlated with amount of abdominal fat. Fatty liver tends to be more strongly associated with VF compared to SF. In other words, if a non-obese patient exhibits fatty liver, the patient may in fact have visceral obesity.
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What are the 4 warning signs of liver damage?

Tip-offs to Liver Damage
  • Jaundice or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
  • Pain and distention of the abdomen due to the release of fluid from the liver.
  • Swelling of lower legs due to fluid retention.
  • Confusion or forgetfulness. ...
  • Dark-colored urine.
  • Pale-colored stool.
  • Chronic fatigue.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
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What are the five signs of liver damage?

Five Liver Damage Warning Signs
  • Fluid Retention. When there is a buildup of scar tissue in the liver known as cirrhosis, the blood flow through the liver is blocked. ...
  • Jaundice. ...
  • Nausea/Loss of Appetite. ...
  • Pale Stools. ...
  • Bruising. ...
  • Caring for Your Liver.
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What part of the body itches with liver problems?

Symptoms of itching with liver disease

Itching associated with liver disease tends to be worse in the late evening and during the night. Some people may itch in one area, such as a limb, the soles of their feet, or the palms of their hands, while others experience an all-over itch.
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What medications are harmful to the liver?

Some medications linked to serious liver injury include the statin drugs used to treat high cholesterol, the combination drug amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran), niacin (Niaspan), ketoconazole, certain antivirals and anabolic steroids.
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What are the last days of liver failure like?

The person may be unable to tell night from day. He or she may also display irritability and personality changes, or have memory problems. As brain function continues to decline, he or she will become sleepy and increasingly confused. This state can progress to unresponsiveness and coma.
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Is my liver shutting down?

Signs and symptoms of acute liver failure may include: Yellowing of your skin and eyeballs (jaundice) Pain in your upper right abdomen. Abdominal swelling (ascites)
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Can a blood test detect liver damage?

Blood tests

A low level of serum albumin suggests your liver is not functioning properly. A blood test may also look for signs of abnormal blood clotting, which can indicate significant liver damage. Lab Tests Online has more information on liver function tests.
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Where do you feel pain if your liver is inflamed?

Pain in your liver itself can feel like a dull throbbing pain or a stabbing sensation in your right upper abdomen just under your ribs. General abdominal pain and discomfort can also be related to swelling from fluid retention and enlargement of your spleen and liver caused by cirrhosis.
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What vitamins help repair the liver?

Vitamins that play a crucial role in maintaining liver health include vitamin D, E, C, B. Individuals need to take these vitamins regularly through a healthy diet plan.
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