What makes the liver hurt
The liver is an unpaired internal organ, on the work of which the health of the body as a whole directly depends. From the point of view of human anatomy, pain cannot be felt in it itself, since it does not have pain receptors, as well as in the brain. Patients who say that the liver hurts, in fact, feel pain in its membrane, or in nearby organs.
Pathological processes in the organ do not immediately manifest themselves with pain and other symptoms. The liver is composed of a multifunctional structure that contains many hepatocyte cells. The manifestation of symptoms occurs from the moment when a large number of these cells die in the organ.
Liver hurts: symptoms
In chronic processes, in addition to severe and extensive pain, liver disease can be accompanied by such skin manifestations as:
- Spider veins;
- Itching in various areas of the body;
- Peeling of the skin in the forehead and nasolabial folds;
- Yellowish coloration of the epidermis.
Also, when the liver hurts, allergic reactions, constipation, diarrhea may develop, dull pains occur under the right rib, frequent dizziness, nausea, decreased appetite and increased body temperature appear.
In some cases, when the patient is not helped in time, in addition to the liver hurting badly, the symptoms may also indicate the development of diseases such as psoriasis, eczema or neurodermatitis. Until the work of the organ is restored and normalized, it will not be possible to get rid of skin problems.
With obstruction of the ducts in the liver parenchyma, the following symptoms are observed:
- Persistent nausea;
- Bitterness in the mouth;
- Coloration of urine in a dark red tint;
- A feeling of heaviness in the right side;
- Yellow coating on the surface of the tongue;
- Discoloration of feces.
The liver filters all the blood that passes through it, therefore, a collection of large blood vessels is concentrated in this part of the body. Any violation of blood flow in them leads to the development of ascites and anasarca.
Cirrhosis, in addition to being the reason why the liver hurts, also manifests itself with symptoms such as:
- Weakness, drowsiness, fatigue and a drop in performance;
- Weight loss and loss of appetite;
- Redness of the palms;
- Yellowing of the sclera of the eyes, mucous membranes of the mouth and body skin;
- Itchy skin;
- In the event of injury, difficulty with stopping blood;
- Spider veins;
- Abdominal enlargement due to fluid accumulation - in a late stage.
All of the above manifestations are very characteristic of conditions in which the liver hurts. These symptoms are an indication for the appointment of a detailed examination by a doctor. It is important to know that they can also indicate gallbladder diseases, bleeding and autoimmune pathological conditions. That is why you should not engage in self-diagnosis of diseases, and in cases where the liver hurts, contact a qualified doctor.
The liver hurts: treatment
In cases where the liver hurts, the cause of such a symptom can be found using biochemical analysis. If, according to its results, an increased level of bilirubin and its fractions is revealed, one can definitely talk about liver diseases.
In order to alleviate the condition when the liver hurts, treatment is reduced to the use of pain relievers and antispasmodics. It is impossible to take such drugs on your own before visiting the hospital, since it will be difficult for the doctor to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
After the doctor determines the cause of the pain, you can begin to eliminate the underlying disease, due to which the liver hurts. Treatment of pathologies of the biliary system is reduced to the use of a special diet, which helps to unload the body. The patient's diet mainly consists of protein and carbohydrate foods, the use of fatty foods should be minimized. Allowed foods for a diet if the liver hurts include the following:
- Bakery products prepared no earlier than a day before consumption;
- Milk, non-acidic cottage cheese, a little sour cream, kefir and yogurt;
- Boiled or baked fish;
- Soups with cereals and vegetables;
- Lean meat;
- Baked egg whites omelet;
- Pasta, cereals, vegetables and fruits.
From the diet, if the liver hurts, it is important to completely exclude baked goods, fatty meat, spices, garlic, radish, chicken egg yolks, confectionery, legumes and chocolate.
Many complain that the liver hurts, the causes of this condition are varied and do not always indicate diseases of this particular organ. Often, such a symptom is a manifestation of diseases of the biliary system of the body or other nearby organs. It is important if conditions arise when the liver hurts, to consult a doctor, since only he will be able to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.
Found a mistake in the text? Select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
