Can your liver ache

The damage leads to scarring, known as fibrosis. Irregular bumps nodules replace the smooth liver tissue and the liver becomes harder. Together, the scarring and the nodules are called cirrhosis.

If you have cirrhosis, you may develop one or more of the symptoms below. If you have or are worried about any of these symptoms discuss them with your doctor.

Sometimes, liver pain will go away after making some lifestyle changes, such as abstaining from alcohol, losing weight, or following a healthful diet. Other problems may require medication or surgery. If there is liver failure, a liver transplant may be needed.

What are some other causes of abdominal pain? Find out here. Even if liver pain occurs, with proper treatment and lifestyle changes, individuals can lead a normal life. The liver is the largest solid organ in the human body.

It performs essential tasks, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and the…. People may not realize they have fatty liver disease because it is a 'silent disease. Cirrhosis is a liver condition that causes irreversible scarring on the liver. There are no symptoms in the early stages, but they develop as the…. Liver disease is any issue that damages the liver and affects its function. Learn about the different types of liver disease and their causes….

Alcohol has short-term and long-term effects. Drinking a small amount can help people feel relaxed, but too much, too often, can be harmful for health.

What to know about liver pain Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, M. Liver pain and liver disease Diagnosis Preventing liver disease Liver pain can be felt in the upper part of the abdomen, on the right hand side. Liver pain and liver disease.

Preventing liver disease. Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, M. It metabolizes carbohydrates, lipids and proteins into useful substances, such as glucose, cholesterol , phospholipids and lipoproteins that are used in various cells throughout the body, according to Colorado State University's Department of Biomedical Sciences' Hypertexts for Pathophysiology: Metabolic Functions of the Liver. The liver breaks down the unusable parts of proteins and converts them into ammonia, and eventually urea.

According to the Canadian Liver Foundation , there are more than types of liver disease, and they are caused by a variety of factors, such as viruses, toxins, genetics, alcohol and unknown causes. The following are among the most common types of liver disease:. According to the National Institutes of Health NIH , one symptom of liver disease is jaundice — yellowish skin and eyes.

Other symptoms include abdominal pain and swelling, persistent itchy skin, dark urine, pale stools, bloody or black stools, exhaustion, bruising easily, nausea and loss of appetite.

There are two types of fatty liver, according to the Cleveland Clinic : that caused by excessive alcohol consumption fatty liver and that which is not non-alcoholic fatty liver or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Speaking of both conditions, Knowlton said, "Some fat on the liver is normal, but when it starts to accumulate to greater than percent, it can lead to permanent liver damage and cirrhosis.

Fatty liver "can be caused by genetics, obesity, diet, hepatitis, or alcohol abuse," said Knowlton. Other risk factors include rapid weight loss, diabetes, high cholesterol, or high trigycerides, according to the ALF.

Some people may get fatty liver even if they don't have any risk factors. Up to 25 percent of the U. There are no medical treatments for fatty liver disease, though avoiding alcohol, eating a healthy diet, and exercising can help prevent or reverse fatty liver disease in its early stages. According to the Mayo Clinic , an enlarged liver or hepatomegaly isn't a disease itself, but a sign of an underlying serious problem, such as liver disease, cancer or congestive heart failure.

There may be no symptoms of an enlarged liver, though if they are they are the same as the symptoms for liver disease. Normally, the liver cannot be felt unless you take a deep breath, but if it is enlarged, your doctor may be able to feel it, according to the NIH. The doctor may then do scans, MRIs, or ultrasounds of the abdomen to determine if you have an enlarged liver. As liver function declines and waste can no longer be eliminated from the body efficiently, the bile pigment called bilirubin can build up in the bloodstream.

In turn, the skin and eyes can take on a yellowish color, urine will appear darker, and stools will appear lighter. When cirrhosis begins to cause pain, it typically appears in the upper right abdomen, or just under the lower right ribs.

The pain can be throbbing or stabbing, and it may come and go. Confusion and problems with concentration are often the first signs of toxin overload, but they can lead to forgetfulness, changes in sleeping habits, and unresponsiveness.

Ongoing nausea is a reaction to excess waste products in the body, and unexplained vomiting is often linked to liver problems.

If you suspect a problem with your liver, take your concerns to your doctor right away. There are several tests that can quickly and painlessly reveal the extent of your liver damage and that will determine the right course of therapy.

The liver is the largest internal organ, and a surprisingly powerful one at that.