Signs that the liver is sick. How to identify liver disease: signs and symptoms. Infectious diseases: viral hepatitis
Recognizing liver disease is quite difficult. The fact is that there are no nerve fibers in its tissues. And if sometimes something hurts, then, most likely, nearby organs make themselves felt, on which the liver begins to put pressure, growing sharply in volume.
unusual pain
Most liver diseases proceed sluggishly and imperceptibly even for the patient himself. Sometimes the patient may experience slight discomfort in the liver, expressed by a feeling of heaviness and fullness. Such symptoms appear during an inflammatory process of a toxic or other nature. The organ, increasing in volume, exerts pressure first on the hepatic capsule, then on other tissues that are in anatomical proximity. Patients usually cannot point to a specific pain point.
Aching pains in the right hypochondrium, indicating liver disease, first appear or worsen most often after heavy drinking or overly satisfying meals. Their cause is often an excess of fatty foods in the diet. Sometimes this condition occurs as a result of nervous breakdowns and overwork.
Nerves and stress
As a result of the disease, the liver ceases to cope with its main function. There is a constant poisoning of the body with toxic substances. On this basis, disturbances occur in the work of the nervous system of the patient, which causes the appearance of:
- anxiety states;
- unmotivated aggressiveness;
- severe fatigue and weakness;
- clouding of consciousness;
- trembling of the limbs.
A very common symptom is pruritus, which often begins with the friction of clothing on the human body, as well as the soles and palms. It tends to intensify at night. Scratching usually does not bring relief.
Emaciated and sickly appearance
The condition of the skin can also determine the presence of liver pathologies. This may be evidenced by bursting vessels, translucent under the skin with blue stars. Due to the fact that the blood is oversaturated with toxins, various rashes and pimples appear, including acne and pustular. The skin becomes reddish over time.
Yellow
As a result of the fact that the excretion of bile into the intestine is disturbed, the substance enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. The whites of the eyes and skin color become yellowish. This condition accompanies a number of liver diseases known as Botkin's disease.
Bile, bypassing the intestines, ceases to color the food bolus passing through it brown. Because of this, the feces become almost white, and the urine becomes dark brown. These symptoms are very alarming, it is recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible, as color changes indicate serious liver pathologies.
Bilirubin is one of the main components of bile, its coloring pigment. An increased concentration in the blood indicates in most cases a blockage of the bile ducts, hepatic jaundice.
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea is the most typical symptom of gastrointestinal diseases. With violations of the structure and functions of the liver, it manifests itself more strongly than with other digestive problems:
- Complete loss of appetite in the patient.
- A persistent aversion to any food is formed, first of all, to fatty foods.
- Vomiting may haunt the patient after each meal.
The main difference is that in the case of liver pathologies, nausea is not accompanied by pain and diarrhea, as in ordinary disorders.
Hepatic edema
Violations of blood flow in the liver lead to the fact that a certain amount of fluid is released into the body. Therefore, such diseases are often accompanied by the appearance of edema under the eyes and in the limbs, especially the fingers. The most dangerous is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, this condition is called ascites. Up to 25 liters of water can be collected in the patient's abdominal cavity.
General failure
The liver cannot fully process the blood and cleanse it of toxins. This affects the entire body. First of all, metabolic processes, hormonal and immune systems suffer. Men lose potency, women have irregular menstrual cycles. Patients with liver pathologies are exposed to frequent viral and colds.
There are symptoms indicating the development of hypovitaminosis. With this disease, the patient is concerned about bleeding gums, white spots on the nails, pallor and dry skin, hair loss.
Hypovitaminosis is a disease state of the body caused by a low intake of vitamins.
The liver stores and processes water-soluble vitamin B12, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, participates in the metabolism of folic acid and vitamins A, B, C D, E, K, PP. Therefore, when the functions of the organ are impaired, vitamin deficiency is formed.
Professional verification
Now that it has become clear how disturbances occur in the vital activity of the liver, it is necessary to learn one more thing. In order not to find yourself in a situation where the organ is destroyed to such an extent that it is no longer possible to save, one rule should be adopted.
It is necessary to go for a scheduled inspection once a year. At the same time, an ultrasound of the liver and a complete blood count should be done. They will show to a sufficient extent all the changes that occur in the body.
The liver is a vital organ located under the diaphragm in the abdominal cavity. It performs a huge number of functions, including cleansing the body of toxins and excess hormones and vitamins, participation in metabolism, the synthesis of cholesterol, bile acids and other chemicals necessary for our body. Therefore, it is extremely important to identify the signs of a dangerous liver disease before it has time to cause irreparable harm to health.
In order to recognize the first symptoms in time, it is necessary to have at least an approximate idea of the location of the liver. Like other vital organs, it is located in the abdominal cavity, namely, in its upper right corner, under the muscular septum of the diaphragm. In shape, it represents an obtuse triangle with rounded corners, consisting of two lobes. In the first lobe, it is attached to the anterior abdominal wall in the region of the right hypochondrium, in the second lobe it narrows to the left costal arch. Painful symptoms are manifested in liver disease on the right in the upper abdomen.
Sometimes signs of a diseased liver, if symptoms are not expressed, can be confused with pain in the gallbladder or stomach, since unpleasant sensations tend to radiate (spread) to nearby areas. In order to unambiguously determine the localization of the pathology, it is necessary to contact a therapist or hepatologist, who, through the collection of anamnesis and the method of palpation, will accurately determine which organ hurts.
Types of pain
Any pathology begins with mild, dull or aching pain in the right hypochondrium. With the development of tumor formations, a feeling of heaviness is possible. The pain actively radiates to different areas of the abdomen. The development of pathology is characterized by an increase in pain symptoms. Acute pain in this case indicates purulent or inflammatory processes. They are also accompanied by temperature.
Indolent problems may not manifest themselves until the onset of liver failure or coma. This is the most dangerous type of pathology, since not all patients respond to other external signs of the disease. It is important to pay attention to the condition of the skin, the color of the feces, and general well-being, as this will help in the early diagnosis of the disease.
Other discomfort associated with liver disease
The manifestation of an unhealthy liver does not end with one pain. Violation of the work of such an important organ is accompanied by disorders of the digestive system, heartburn and a feeling of nausea. Patients are often tormented by an enduring feeling of hunger, chills beat at night (which is subsequently easily replaced by fever).
The first signs of liver disease, which may indirectly indicate the presence of malfunctions in the body:
The more acute the pathology, the stronger the internal symptoms. With their long-term development, a hepatic coma can occur, characterized by almost complete liver failure, impaired blood supply, respiratory functions, and leading to death without proper medical intervention.
External manifestations of pathology
Not only subjective sensations will help to identify the disease. External signs can also indicate pathology. Thus, a decrease in the detoxification function of the liver leads to a change in the color of feces, the smell of sweat becomes sharper, and urine acquires an unhealthy brown tint.
Other signs and indicators of poor liver function:
The patient looks extremely painful. The tongue is covered with cracks and white coating, the person loses weight and suffers from headaches. Of particular danger are increased bleeding - one of the causes of a possible fatal outcome. Intestinal dysfunction also occurs, in the area of the cardiovascular system - tachycardia.
Symptoms of individual diseases
Not all liver pathologies are characterized by the above symptoms. Their intensity and degree of manifestation directly depends on the type of disease. Therefore, it is important to know about the most common diseases and their characteristic symptoms.
For example, cirrhosis of the liver is characterized by the following symptoms:
- proliferation of connective tissue replacing parenchymal tissue;
- increased pressure in the portal vein system;
- violation of the function of liver regeneration;
- acute pain in the right hypochondrium;
- flatulence;
- weight loss;
- temperature from 37.1 to 38 degrees;
- splenomegaly - enlargement of the spleen.
The formation of spider veins (the same ones that are usually observed with varicose veins) on the pubis, discoloration of the nails. Hormonal imbalance in men leads to gynecomastia. The body is prone to edema and venous collaterals (due to which bleeding often occurs).
What can be confused with the disease?
Mild diseases can often be confused with other, similar diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Bitterness in the mouth may manifest gastritis, and a change in the color of urine may well accompany kidney disease. Therefore, it should be remembered that only a hepatologist or, at worst, a therapist can make an accurate diagnosis for you. To make an accurate diagnosis, a liver profile is usually used through blood tests or ultrasound.
What diseases at an early stage resemble pathologies of the liver?
- Gastritis or ulcer.
- Intestinal colitis, irritable bowel syndrome.
- Diseases of the gallbladder.
- Pathology of the pancreas.
- Renal failure and others.
Pronounced hepatic symptoms occur already at an advanced stage of the course of the disease. At the first signs, you should consult a doctor and differentiate the diagnosis without waiting for the development of venous bleeding or acute colic.
If healthy young people are asked about the symptoms of liver pain in a person, how it hurts, many will not even be able to really answer where it is located. This is because due to the lack of nerve endings in the organ, liver diseases do not manifest themselves for a long time. They develop and proceed imperceptibly, and when pathologies are detected, in most cases, treatment is already useless.
Where is the human liver located?
The liver is the largest internal human organ. It occupies almost the entire right upper peritoneal cavity, located under the muscular protection of the diaphragm. Its main part was fixed with ligaments in the zone of the right hypochondrium and costal arch with a projection on the anterior wall of the peritoneum.
Gradually narrowing and taking on a sharp wedge-shaped shape, it is localized in the left zone of the abdominal cavity, closer to the hypochondrium on the left. Therefore, problems with the liver often make themselves felt not only by discomfort and pain in the right side, but also in the epigastric zone.
More than 500 important functions are assigned to the liver in the body. But, its main function is to neutralize and remove toxins from the body. Even a violation of this function alone leads to clogging of the blood with harmful substances, which it instantly spreads to various organs and tissue structures, which can manifest itself in the development of irreversible processes.
Schematic location of the liver in the human body
When it hurts in the liver area, it can mean anything, and it will not necessarily be the result of the development of pathological processes in the organ itself. A painful syndrome may be completely unrelated to it, and it can be provoked by:
- acute and chronic inflammatory processes in the gallbladder;
- the presence of stones in its ducts;
- inflammatory reactions in the pancreas;
- infectious mononucleosis and kidney disease;
- appendicitis and ulcerative formations in the gastrointestinal tract;
- pathology of the urinary system or osteochondrosis.
Such sensations in the liver area are called a false syndrome, manifested by radiating pain in the organ location area.
How to recognize liver pain: the main symptoms
The beginning of the development of pathological processes in the liver itself may go unnoticed, since serious problems occur during the mass death of cells of the tissue structure (parenchyma) of the liver - hepatocytes. In various diseases, they can be gradually replaced by connective or adipose tissue. Therefore, at the beginning of the disease, the symptoms are erased, or disguised as other diseases.
An exception may be the defeat of toxins and the development of viral hepatitis. With their development, as a result of the mass death of hepatocytes, the body undergoes acute intoxication, accompanied by specific symptoms.
Chronic pathological processes are accompanied by:
- A characteristic symptom is itching in various parts of the body;
- The formation of spider veins - telangiectasia;
- yellowing of the epidermis;
- Peeling skin on the forehead and folds of the nasolabial triangle.
Long-term structural damage to the tissues of the organ causes the development of psoriasis, eczema and neurodermatitis. Their causes are more often caused precisely by liver diseases with a violation of the detoxification process.
All blood circulating in the body passes through hepatocytes. In a healthy liver, they absorb harmful substances, toxins and cellular decay products from the blood like a sponge. Without normalization and restoration of the detoxification function, the skin problem cannot be solved.
Violations of the outflow of bile in the liver causes the breakdown of bilirubin in its cells and penetration into the blood, causing symptoms of saffron coloration of the skin and sclera of the eyes. Other symptoms of violations of the patency of the ducts can manifest themselves:
- pain and heaviness from the right in the hypochondrium;
- constant feeling of nausea and bitterness;
- yellow coating on the tongue;
- dark red tint of urine;
- discoloration of stools.
In addition, any disturbances in the blood flow can provoke the development of diffuse swelling in the soft tissues, abdominal dropsy and fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity in the lower part of the body. Disturbances in the portal circulation are characteristic of advanced cirrhosis, manifesting as a peculiar symptom (jellyfish head) - a swollen abdomen and veins on the anterior wall of the peritoneum.
If at least two of the listed symptoms are present and the liver hurts, you should not engage in self-diagnosis - trust yourself to the doctor.
What should you pay attention to?
Features of pain in the liver, dangerous symptoms
When identifying hepatic pain, attention should be paid to the nature, time of manifestations and accompanying symptoms.
- Periodic dull pain usually manifests itself with the development of acute inflammatory processes in the liver. May be accompanied by fever or chills.
- Slight constant pain - signals the course of chronic hepatitis, but if it is strong and sharp - this indicates an acute form of the disease.
- The severity of the course of cholelithiasis is determined by the severity of the pain syndrome. If there are small stones in the duct, the pain is tolerable, but if its lumen is completely clogged, then the pain will be unbearable, bursting and paroxysmal. Symptoms are complemented by signs of intoxication and bitterness in the mouth.
- Pain in the liver may indicate the development of oncological processes, while there is an increase in the organ. Or fatty degeneration, manifested by discomfort in the abdomen, weight gain or loss, various digestive disorders and the so-called “hepatic laziness” symptom, when fatigue overcomes, even after small loads.
But the most dangerous pathology is cirrhosis. The pain syndrome begins to manifest itself only in the terminal stage of the disease, when the structure of the organ has undergone irreversible changes and recovery is impossible.
Therefore, at the first sign of a malfunction of the organ, especially if the liver already hurts, treatment should begin immediately. It is also important to know that some pathologies, in the form of hemangioma and steatosis, develop in the structure of the liver without any symptoms at all. They are found only with ultrasound diagnostics.
How does alcohol affect the liver?
The duet of alcohol and the liver always causes damage to its tissues - and it is not so important what the potion lover drinks, but in what quantities and how often. If the daily daily dose of alcohol-containing drinks (half a glass of wine, or 50 ml of vodka or a glass of beer) does not exceed the "norm", there will be no particular harm to health. With an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed, the development of pathologies is inevitable.
Excessive weight, poor nutrition and hepatitis C can speed up the process of hepatic dysfunction in an alcoholic. The first "bell" may ring in the form of:
- sudden manifestations of fatigue and weakness;
- lack of need for food and weight loss;
- inability to concentrate;
- nervous breakdown and frequent bouts of nausea;
- soreness and an increase in the hypochondrium;
- bitterness in the mouth and yellowing of the skin of the body.
This is because alcohol deals the main blow to the liver tissues. Only a tenth of it is excreted from the body by the kidneys, the rest settles in the liver, which invariably leads to its defeat. There is an accumulation of ethanol in the cells of the body, causing its obesity. This process itself is not dangerous.
The danger lies in the fact that untimely treatment leads to scarring of tissues, and eventually to functional disorders of the organ. Hepatomegaly (structural enlargement), fibrous processes, hepatitis, and finally cirrhosis develops.
Pain in the liver, what can be done?
The first thing they do with pain in the liver is go to a consultation with a gastroenterologist or hepatologist. And firmly remember what is absolutely impossible to do - this is taking painkillers, which can create additional stress on the liver, erase the clinic of the disease and affect the reliability of the diagnosis. The sooner the cause of the pain is identified, the easier it is to eliminate it. According to the results of the diagnosis, drug therapy and dietary recommendations are prescribed.
You can restore the functional work of a damaged organ at home. In addition to advanced cases and manifestations of the disease in an acute form, when hospitalization, and in other cases, surgical treatment is indispensable.
What can be done at home when the liver hurts? At the first and sudden manifestation of a painful syndrome in the liver area, pain can be reduced if you lie on your back and slightly raise your head. The condition will be facilitated by the frequent intake of ordinary water (without gas and flavorings) and a cold compress applied to the right area of \u200b\u200bthe ribs for about 10 minutes. If the pain is severe, do not self-medicate - call an ambulance.
For any reason of pain manifestations in the liver area, diet is an integral part of the treatment. Its observance significantly reduces the load on the body. The basis of the diet is regular fractional meals (up to 6 times / day), a balanced and complete diet, steaming or baking. The volume of liquid consumed (plain water) per day should not be less than 1.5 liters.
Remove from use:
- Sweet drinks with gas, strong coffee and tea;
- Limit foods with chemical additives and preservatives in the diet;
- Completely exclude salted, smoked, pickled foods and fried foods;
- Animal and confectionery fats (broths on fatty meat and margarine in muffins);
- Dairy products with a fat content of more than 6%, chocolate and confectionery products, including ice cream;
- In the vegetable and fruit diet should not be legumes, radishes and radishes, spinach or sorrel, garlic and onions, berries and fruits of acidic varieties.
When the liver hurts, this is a rather painful condition. But, with a qualitative examination, competent differentiated diagnostics, adequate treatment and compliance with all medical recommendations, the patient's condition quickly stabilizes with a guarantee of long-term and stable remission.
Gastrointestinal disorders are accompanied by various symptoms.
Particular discomfort is caused by pain in the right side. Such pains can be of any intensity, character. Sometimes it is a signal of problems in the liver.
The liver is an organ that performs important functions - cleansing the body of harmful substances, participating in the creation of blood.
Therefore, it is important to determine in time when liver problems appear. How to understand that it is the liver that hurts if the digestive organs are nearby on the right side of the abdomen.
How to identify pain in the liver
Pain in the right side under the lower ribs may indicate that there are disturbances in the functioning of the liver. They can be of any type and frequency.
It is important to note that pain in liver problems can radiate to the back, shoulder blade, and even the neck on the right side of the body. In some situations, the return of pain goes to the epigastric zone of the stomach.
With various diseases, it is not the liver that really hurts, but only its shell. This is due to the absence of nerve endings in the organ.
In addition, if there is an increase in the liver due to inflammatory processes, then it can put pressure on neighboring organs, which is also a common cause of pain in the right side.
Increased soreness of the liver capsule occurs as a result of sudden movements and after eating fatty foods. In addition, alcohol abuse affects the development of liver diseases, because of which its membrane begins to hurt.
With constant aching pains or painful sensations of a paroxysmal nature, an examination should be carried out to prevent the development of severe pathologies of the organ.
Types of pain, other signs of organ problems
Liver pain can be of a different nature. This
due to the presence of a certain disease.
Painful sensations in the body are sometimes weak, dull. Some diseases may cause severe pain. Often there is a feeling as if something pricks under the right ribs. Also, pain in liver pathology can be aching. It intensifies after taking fatty and spicy foods, while driving and physical work.
Usually, not only the soreness of the right hypochondrium indicates a problem with the organ. In most cases, accompanying signs also testify to this.
These may include the following symptoms:
- Heaviness and discomfort in the hypochondrium
- Bitterness in the mouth
- Belching with an unpleasant odor
- Plaque on the tongue (yellow or white)
- General weakness
- Heartburn
- Darkening of the urine
- Constant fatigue
- Lack of appetite
- night sweats
- Irritability
- Weight loss
- Sleep disturbance
- Fatty food intolerance
With pain in the body, there are also digestive disorders: vomiting, morning sickness, flatulence, constipation, bloating.
Often signs of liver disease are yellowness of the eyes, a yellow tint of the skin, itching and rashes on them. Perhaps the appearance of age spots and wen. These symptoms are due to a large amount of bile substances in the blood.
In rare cases, headache and loss of consciousness are possible.
Liver problems in men affect potency, they may have enlarged mammary glands. As for women, the pathological condition of the organ is accompanied by menstrual disorders.
With inflammatory processes in the liver, the temperature may rise.
Changes in the structure and color of nails and hair are associated with diseases of the organ.
Due to poor liver function, immunity decreases, and this leads to frequent colds and viral diseases.
Sometimes, with pathologies, the liver may not hurt. However, there are painful sensations in the organs that depend on its proper functioning. Or vice versa, the liver often hurts if there are diseases of the organs located near it, for example, gallstones, pancreatitis.
A person who has discovered at least a few of the above signs should immediately consult a doctor. After the examination and determination of the diagnosis, the specialist will prescribe the appropriate treatment for the patient.
Pathologies indicated by hepatic pain
Ignore pain under the lower ribs on the right side
it is forbidden. After all, it is often a symptom of many dangerous and intractable diseases.
If the pain is of a dull nature, but of periodic intensity, this indicates acute inflammatory processes in the liver. Slight pain may indicate chronic hepatitis, it is constant in intensity. If the sensations are strong, sharp, then an acute form of the disease may occur.
Discomfort in the liver area can often indicate problems with the gallbladder:
- Biliary dyskinesia
- The presence of stones in the ducts
- Cholecystitis
It is important to note that the severity of cholelithiasis is determined by the nature of the pain. With small stones - tolerable pain. If the lumen of the duct is completely clogged, then the pain is unbearable, paroxysmal, arching.
A terrible disease is cirrhosis. Its danger lies in the fact that in a person suffering from cirrhosis, in the right side it begins to hurt only at a late stage of the disease. At this stage, irreversible changes in the organ have already occurred and their restoration is impossible.
No less severe pathology, which may be indicated by pain in the hypochondrium on the right side, is an oncological process in the liver. Fatty degeneration is also determined in the presence of pain in the area of the organ.
Hepatic colic occurs as a result of alcohol abuse, the use of fatty, spicy foods and the ingestion of toxins.
You should be aware that there are liver pathologies in which symptoms are not observed. These are hemangioma and organ steatosis. They can be diagnosed with ultrasound.
Therefore, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination annually to prevent undesirable consequences. And with any signs of liver disease, you need to consult a specialist in a timely manner - a gastroenterologist-hepatologist.
More about liver diseases - in the video:
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Briefly about the liver
The largest gland in the body is the human liver. It performs many functions, among them are:
- cleansing the blood of toxins;
- regulation of secretory functions and hormonal levels;
- the formation of immunity;
- bile production by hepatocytes (gland cells);
- withdrawal of cholesterol;
- protein metabolism.
The liver can be called a "chemical laboratory". Without it, human life is impossible. The loss of some part of the functions can lead to serious, sometimes incurable diseases. Signs of liver disease are the same. Whatever the disease, it always significantly affects the functioning and general condition of the body.
Features of diseases
First you need to understand that in the structure of the gland there are many blood vessels, ducts for bile, but there is practically no network of nerve fibers. If they say that “the liver hurts”, then this is from ignorance of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract. Such states are distant echoes of disorder in his work, to which a number of diseases lead. The fact that liver cells are able to recover with adequate early treatment is encouraging.
Hepatitis of all forms
Today in the world there are up to 5 forms of hepatitis. They are marked in Latin letters, starting with A. This is an infectious disease transmitted through water, soil, utensils, personal items. Its effects will forever remain in the body.
What are the first signs of inflammation of the liver? These are changes in the color of the skin, the sclera of the eyes, in the stool. It hurts only on the right side. This indicates an increase in the size of the liver.
Hepatitis is transmitted through the blood and mucous membranes. In these diseases, the basic structure of tissues is also affected, which leads to the phenomena of chronic cholecystitis, a decrease in the immune status, and problems of protein metabolism. Everyone can learn about prevention methods.
Fatty hepatosis
Under the influence of negative factors on the liver, hepatosis phenomena may occur. In place of the affected cells, fat is formed. It is chronic and occurs due to factors:
- taking medications, such as broad-spectrum antibiotics;
- environmental situation in places of residence, especially where there are many chemical industries;
- violations in diets, frequent changes in food intake;
- eating foods that cause toxic poisoning of liver cells, for example, preservatives, pickles, smoked meats, fats.
The latter is especially dangerous.
cirrhosis
Alcohol abusers have probably heard of the concept of cirrhosis. It is considered incurable, because due to cell damage, they are gradually replaced by connective tissue, this process is irreversible. In which case, a cirrhotic condition can lead to oncology and death.
Cholelithiasis
It is a consequence of a malfunction in the gallbladder. Especially complex are the conditions that cause the formation of stones. Sooner or later this will lead to the operating table when the gallbladder is removed. Without it, life is possible, but you will have to constantly sit on a specialized diet.
How pain manifests itself
With different diseases, the severity of symptoms that indicate which diseases there are, how the iron hurts in a person is almost the same. The reasons may be different, but everything indicates that additional examination is necessary.
Symptoms may be:
- eructation after eating, smelling like rotten eggs;
- bitterness and bile in the mouth;
- it hurts with attacks or constantly, overnight the pain can develop into acute, bringing significant suffering;
- it also hurts in the back on the right, so they often initially try to treat diseases of the spine;
- in some cases, when bilirubin appears in the blood in a significant amount, the eyes and skin become yellow.
The pain has become unbearable
Manifestations of pain in the liver can be different. In the event that it becomes threatening, especially at night, you should immediately consult a doctor. Having called an ambulance, it is necessary to put the patient on a flat surface, give light painkillers, put a pillow on his stomach.
You can not warm, put compresses, because remotely the signs can be similar to the phenomena of appendicitis. In case of vomiting, give cold water to drink. If it is not possible to call doctors at home, then take the patient to the nearest hospital, where they will definitely provide initial assistance, relieving pain.
Determined only by the doctor
If the stomach hurts on the right, then this is an occasion to make sure that there are diseases of the liver and bile ducts. Which doctor should be contacted? Treatment is carried out by a general practitioner or hepatologist, in some cases, an infectious disease specialist. Examinations, which include a number of procedures, will help determine if the liver hurts.
- General clinical and biochemical blood tests. If there is an increased ESR, bilirubin is higher than normal, cholesterol, protein fractions, abnormalities in ALAT and ASAT are signs of liver disease.
- External examination, as itching and skin changes are not uncommon. If percussion is performed, this will help determine possible increases and deviations from the norm in the gland.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs will determine the structure, areas of increased echogenicity, the degree of damage, signs of the disease.
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a CT scan of the organ to exclude complications due to oncology. Additionally, gastroenteroscopy and x-rays using barium salts may be prescribed to obtain a complete picture of the inflammatory process in the liver and gastrointestinal tract.
In any case, if there is even minor, occasionally occurring pain, you should consult a specialist doctor, a gastroenterologist. Self-medication can only aggravate the condition and lead to irreparable consequences.
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Can the liver hurt?
The liver is the heaviest digestive organ and the largest gland, it is located in the right hypochondrium. Many people in their entire lives do not know how this organ hurts. If a person’s liver hurts, then this indicates, first of all, serious violations in the work of this organ.
The causes of pain in the liver are provoked by various situations - both pathological and natural. For example, with cirrhosis, signs of pain in the liver occur due to necrosis of hepatocytes, and when overeating fatty foods, the right side will only hurt for a while until it copes with the increased food load.
It is worth noting that this gland is the most pain-resistant organ - if the liver hurts, then this is the result of serious diseases. That is why doctors recommend not to delay a visit to the clinic if there is a sharp pain in the liver, or painful sensations persist in the right hypochondrium for a long time. The causes of soreness in the gland can be determined after a thorough examination.
As a rule, severe pain in the liver occurs at a late stage of severe pathologies such as hepatitis, cirrhosis of the parenchyma and cancer. Can the liver hurt if it is devoid of nerve endings? The appearance of hepatic pain occurs due to the stretching of its capsule - all nerve endings are concentrated in its sheath, which reacts to the disease with the appearance of unpleasant sensations.
Natural causes, not related to diseases
Not only liver diseases can provoke discomfort in the right hypochondrium. There is also the so-called. natural reasons for which the manifestations of the disease are not long in coming. In this case, pathological processes in the gland are not observed, but soreness occurs as if it were affected by a disease. There are such sensations for the following reasons:
- heavy snacking and physical activity quickly cause pain in the right side, which is why physical activity has to be stopped. This situation arises due to the overflow of the organ with blood and the stretching of the capsule. With the elimination of physical activity, after a while, the discomfort disappears;
- discomfort at the location of the gland occurs due to long-term diets that are abused by girls who want to lose weight;
- provoke discomfort and alcoholic libations, the predominance of too fatty foods in the diet, against which cholecystitis develops - it is this disease that causes pain in the right side. Such symptoms in men appear more often than in women, since it is the stronger sex that more often sins by non-compliance with the correct diet;
- lack of food if a person walks hungry for a long time;
- pain in the liver occurs due to the restriction of motor activity, which leads to stagnation of bile and the appearance of stones. This condition occurs when it is necessary to lie down for a long time (long postoperative recovery), move little (fractures of the limbs);
- some drugs that are prescribed to the patient for a long time (for example, antibiotics, oral contraceptives) can also provoke pain in the liver;
- pregnancy, although it is a physiological process, nevertheless creates an increased load on the organ, due to which the expectant mother can get sick with cholecystitis.
These causes of liver pain, it is important to correctly recognize, verify the diagnosis and eliminate. Special treatment is not required here, unless comorbidities have developed.
Diseases that can cause pain
The liver may also hurt due to congenital disorders, which develop asymptomatically for some time, and then may appear in an adult.
The most common pathology that provokes soreness is cholecystitis. With this pathology, the gallbladder is affected, but what symptoms provoke cholecystitis, these also occur in the gland itself.
Severe pain in the gland also occurs due to toxic poisoning, the development of a malignant neoplasm.
How to determine what exactly worries the liver?
Knowing exactly how the organ worries and where the liver hurts and pulls, it is possible to diagnose the pathology that caused discomfort. For a certain disease, its type of discomfort is characteristic. How to find out what exactly hurts the liver? You can use an exemplary table, but only the attending physician will help to accurately determine the causes of discomfort after a carefully collected history and examination.
If there is pain in the liver, it is better not to start treatment without a medical examination. Also, do not take analgesics and antispasmodics, which can confuse the picture of what is happening. The pill can only be taken by a child who cannot bear the pain and needs to relieve pain in the liver.
How to relieve pain with acute sensations without pills and what to do with pain in the liver in the absence of qualified help? In this case, you can apply ice to your right side and wait for the doctor to examine you. For pain in the liver, first aid should be provided in the clinic, where it is possible to conduct hardware diagnostics of the patient's condition, do an ultrasound, MRI or CT scan. Acute symptoms are also removed there, assessing the symptoms and treatment of the disease at this stage.
If the liver hurts, you should immediately contact the clinic, and after hours - call an ambulance and be hospitalized in the nearest emergency institution. There, after the examination, you can establish the reasons why the liver hurts, what treatment is needed and where to carry it out. Only a doctor can recommend how to treat an ailment, self-administration of any drugs is categorically excluded.
Treatment
Often, patients do not know how the liver hurts, where it is located and how to determine the nature of the discomfort. How to understand if the liver hurts or is it a symptom of another pathology? If the liver aches, then this will be accompanied by painful sensations on the right side, digestive disorders, especially when eating fatty foods. The patient himself cannot identify the ailment, but can only indicate from which side the discomfort is observed, and what sensations he experiences, whether the organ aches strongly or not. Further diagnosis remains with the doctor.
Part of the pathologies of the gland can be treated at home. For example, with alcohol damage, improvements occur after 1.5-2 months of a healthy lifestyle. Both infectious mononucleosis and chronic hepatitis can be treated at home, but under the supervision of a doctor.
Patients with hepatitis are only in the clinic, since the symptoms of the disease can manifest themselves in such signs that are eliminated only by the introduction of special drugs.
Congenital pathologies of the organ, as a rule, do not require treatment, but only monitoring of the patient's health is necessary.
With pathologies such as tumors, cholecystitis, cirrhosis, surgical treatment may be necessary.
Prevention
As for the prevention of liver pathologies, it is important to give a few tips here:
To boast that they do not know where the main digestive organ is and how it hurts can those people who eat right, take care of their health, do not smoke or drink alcohol.
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The liver is one of the vital organs of the human body. It takes part in the process of digestion, metabolism, and also serves as a filter, cleansing the blood and, accordingly, the entire body of toxins, converts substances harmful to the body. There are also a large number of liver diseases, and the symptoms that indicate that a person has a diseased liver are very different and often at first glance have nothing to do with this organ.
Causes of pain in the liver
In medicine, the causes of pain in the liver are usually divided into functional and organic.
Functional disorders are usually caused by external factors that provoked disturbances in the liver.
These factors include:
- alcohol intoxication;
- overeating (especially the abuse of fatty, fried, cholesterol-rich foods);
- poisoning;
- drug intoxication;
- overvoltage.
In addition, pain can be caused by acute or chronic stress. With such disorders, signs of pain in the liver may be implicit, short-lived, and not permanent, but occur periodically, due to the influence of a negative factor. Functional disorders are quite easy to treat.
Organic lesions include diseases that directly affect the liver and cause changes in it:
- cirrhosis;
- fatty degeneration of the liver;
- acute and chronic hepatitis;
- cysts;
- abscesses;
- tumors.
What symptoms can be observed if the liver hurts?
It is worth noting that there are no pain receptors in the liver itself, they are only in the fibrous membrane covering the liver. When the liver enlarges, there is pressure on this lining, so a dull ache is usually a symptom of a diseased liver in people. Acute cramping pains most often indicate diseases of the biliary tract, cholelithiasis. A sharp sharp pain, aggravated by palpation, may indicate cholangitis or purulent cholecystitis.
In this case, the pain does not necessarily appear in the right hypochondrium, where the liver is located, but can be given to other parts of the body or be vague, so in some cases the symptoms can be confused with abdominal pain.
Liver disease can cause:
- dull or sharp pain in the right hypochondrium;
- pressing and pulling sensations in the same place;
- pain in the back, neck, area of the right shoulder blade;
- discomfort arising or aggravated after the use of fatty, spicy, fried, alcohol;
- pain is accompanied by belching, bitterness in the mouth, stool disorders.
What symptoms are typical if the liver is sick?
Consider what are the main signs that can be observed when a person has a liver ache.
Yellowing of the skin and sclera of the eye
A specific symptom, characteristic of liver diseases, due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood. Most often occurs in cirrhosis and hepatitis.
General weakness and increased fatigue
A common symptom that is characteristic of a very large number of diseases, and therefore cannot serve as a basis for a diagnosis. But in case of violation of liver functions, it is observed quite often, due to intoxication of the body. 
Skin problems
Paleness of the skin, pigmentation disorders, bruising and bruising. These symptoms are usually observed in prolonged, chronic liver disease. It is also possible the appearance of skin rashes, acne, blackheads - which serves as a signal of metabolic disorders or intoxication.
Digestive disorders
Belching with the smell of a rotten egg, bloating, nausea, stool disturbances - these symptoms are almost always characteristic if a person has a liver ache, regardless of the cause.
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How to diagnose
Each person can independently determine if he has any problems if he carefully monitors his health and appearance. After all, all such diseases have a number of symptoms. To notice most of them, just look closely at the person. These features will be discussed in more detail below.
And, in addition, you can take a blood test at any clinic and find out for sure if there are any problems with the organ under discussion. In some cases, an ultrasound examination of the body is also prescribed. Both of these methods are familiar to us and practically painless.
What are the first signs and symptoms of liver disease
Many diseases immediately affect the face and body of a person. This allows the patient to notice the problem in time, go to the doctor and immediately begin appropriate treatment, protecting himself from more serious problems.
On the face
- The whites of the eyes acquire a yellowish tint, which is very easy to notice.
- The condition of the skin on the face changes dramatically - a lot of acne appears, it becomes too dry or, conversely, too wet.
- Vascular "asterisks" and age spots appear.
On the skin
- The skin on the whole body may acquire a yellowish tint.
- On any part of the skin, age spots can begin to appear sharply. Thus, the skin tries to take over part of the functions of the liver.
- The skin looks lifeless and tired.
- All over the body begin to appear wen.
In addition to such external signs, a person can also:
- start to get tired quickly and lose their former performance;
- lose your appetite;
- acquire a flaccid protruding belly, which may be the result of fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity;
- feel that the color and structure of hair and nails have changed. They become more brittle and weak;
- suffer from insomnia and night sweats;
- feel a constant sign of bitterness in the mouth and notice that the tongue is covered with a yellowish coating. But it can also be a sign of gastritis with low acidity.
- begin to tolerate too fatty foods, even if he had not previously had such a feature;
- and much more.
Each patient should always pay attention to such symptoms and try to seek help from their doctor in time. This will prevent more serious health problems. The sooner treatment begins, the faster, easier and more effective it will be.
alcohol disease
Such a disease can develop in a patient who has been abusing alcoholic beverages for a long time. As a rule, this period is about 10 years. For men, this is a daily intake of 40-80 grams of ethanol, for women - 20 grams.
Alcoholic diseases can manifest as fatty degeneration, cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis.
At the same time, the risk of the appearance and development of such a disease in men is three times higher than in the fair sex. After all, men consume alcoholic beverages much more often. But in women, such diseases develop much more actively and faster, even when drinking a smaller amount of a dangerous drink. This is influenced by the gender characteristics of the removal of alcohol from the body, as well as its absorption.
Most often, these diseases are almost asymptomatic. But sometimes patients experience the following symptoms:
- weakness and loss of appetite;
- jaundice;
- dull pain in the right hypochondrium;
- depressed mood;
- nausea, heartburn or belching;
- in men, there is sometimes a decrease in the testicles and an increase in the mammary glands.
What an unhealthy organ looks like during a medical diagnosis
If the patient has obvious symptoms of any liver disease, then the doctor will most likely send him for a special examination, during which he will examine the appearance of the organ using a special device. It can be determined by the appearance that a problem has appeared in the human body. For example, this is evidenced by a change in the shape, color and structure of the organ. So, for example, with alcoholic cirrhosis, the color becomes not uniform, but with numerous light patches. External changes will also help the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis for the patient.
