- Causes of pain
- Methods of diagnosis and treatment
- Diet when pain occurs
- Related videos
In our body, there are many organs and glands that participate in the digestion process. But the main thing after all is the liver, which participates in the neutralization of the body from the effects of poisonous and harmful substances, the development of digestive enzymes and bile, the synthesis of sugar and blood cells, storage of vitamins and other nutrients.
But unfortunately, if the body is not working properly, some people complain that they have a liver ache after eating. It is interesting to learn about the possible causes of the disease and how to eliminate it.
Causes of pain
In the opinion of the majority of specialists, the cause of pain in the right hypochondrium( the site of liver localization) is progressive serious diseases. The liver does not have nerve endings, so the appearance of pain signals a serious abnormality relating to a significant increase in the size of the organ, which causes the fibrous capsule to stretch.
The main pathological conditions, why the liver is aching, are diseases:
- echinococcosis;
- hepatitis;
- cirrhosis;
- abscess
- cancer;
- viral infection( mononucleosis, acute respiratory viral infection, influenza);
- malnutrition and overeating;
- liver injury;
- taking certain medications.
Echinococcosis
Parasitic lesion of the body, in particular, of the liver, caused by ribbon worms by echinococci. In the human body, only parasite larvae can be found that can affect not only the liver( which is 65% of the total number of infections), but also other organs and their systems. An adult worm parasitizes dogs, less often cats.
There are 3 ways of transferring eggs to the host organism:
- With meat of wild animals. Adult echinococcus lives in the intestines of the final host, during its life lays eggs that stand out with feces. They can get into the pond, fruits, vegetables and other vegetation, which is consumed by wild animals.
- With the meat of livestock. The parasite enters the body of domestic animals through contaminated water and food. Eggs with blood flow circulate through their body and settle in the meat. With insufficient heat treatment, eggs do not die and can cause echinococcosis.
- If you violate the rules of personal hygiene. Most often, young children who walk on the street suffer and can put dirty hands in their mouths. Also applies to people who do not wash fruit and vegetables before consumption.
Symptoms of liver damage by worm larvae are nausea and vomiting, severity and soreness in the right hypochondrium, stool disorder, general weakness, disability. Complication of the disease is the formation of cyst - echinococcal blisters, the rupture of which can lead to peritonitis, pleurisy or anaphylactic shock.
Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver, developing as a result of infection, toxins or autoimmune process. Symptoms and signs of hepatitis are the dyeing of the skin, mucous membranes and sclera of the eyes in a yellow tint. As a result of a significant increase in bilirubin, urine acquires the color of dark beer, and the feces, on the contrary, become discolored.
Discomfort and tenderness appear in the right upper quadrant, itching, nausea, bitter eructation, especially after eating.
Sometimes bruising and bruising at the slightest trauma can talk about a violation of the liver, which is responsible for the coagulability of the blood.
Untreated viral hepatitis represents a great danger to the patient. The most common complications of the disease include: cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer. In order not to miss the beginning of the development of a serious pathology, it is recommended to donate blood for antibodies at least once a year.
Cirrhosis
A chronic progressive disease resulting in the formation of hepatocyte cells into cells similar to scarring and scarring. The cause of the development of pathology is not always alcohol abuse.
If no measures are taken to improve the health status, complications such as hepatic coma, encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome
Cirrhosis can develop as a result of the following factors: progressive hepatitis B or C, autoimmune diseases, toxins exposure to the organ throughoutlong period, helminthic invasion, genetic defects in the development of the liver, diseases of the gallbladder and its ducts with their blockage.
The following symptoms are typical for cirrhosis: a feeling of a full stomach, pain in the right upper quadrant after ingestion or alcohol, a slight increase in temperature to 37.5 degrees, bleeding gums when cleaning teeth, itching.
With further development of cirrhosis in the abdominal cavity begins to accumulate excess fluid that leads to ascites, there is a characteristic thickening of the flanks of the fingers( drum sticks), on the skin along the whole body are vascular sprockets, in men there is an increase in mammary glands.
Liver abscess
Acute inflammatory process in the parenchyma of the body, characterized by the formation of a cavity with pus. To date, there are many reasons for the development of an abscess, but the most common are: acute appendicitis, sepsis, cholelithiasis, malignant tumors, with damage by worms.
Symptoms of liver inflammation are well pronounced, patients complain of general weakness, fever above 38 degrees, chills, headache and unbearable pain in the right upper quadrant, a decrease or loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting of intestinal contents.
The peculiarity of the abscess is that it masks itself under the clinic of the disease, which provoked a purulent inflammation. That is why there can be some difficulties in diagnosing.
Oncological neoplasms in the liver
Can develop over a long period of time and not give any symptoms. This is exactly what is wrong with both diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, more often than not, it is too late to learn about liver cancer and to conduct treatment is practically meaningless.
This is due to the fact that when the atypical cells begin to grow, the liver persistently tries to fight them and after a long time is exhausted. After this, the tumor significantly increases in volume and the first signs appear. Large size neoplasms squeeze nearby tissues, because of which the general condition of the patient worsens.
In liver cancer, usually the pain is acute, except for this there are other unpleasant symptoms: decreased performance, upset of the stool, decreased appetite and weight loss, possibly yellowing of the skin and eyes. Over time, the pain becomes permanent, unresponsive and not dependent on food intake.
Methods for diagnosis and treatment of
In order to identify the cause of pain in the liver region, a comprehensive examination should be performed, which will include the following procedures:
- palpation of the zone of hypochondrium in order to determine the size of the organ;
- assessment of the condition and color of the skin, mucous and eye proteins;
- clinical and biochemical blood test;
- Ultrasound examination of abdominal organs;
- if necessary CT or MRI.
To improve your health, you need to limit yourself in consuming fat and increase your intake of fiber and protein.
What should I do with pain on the right? If there are unpleasant sensations in the area of the liver after a meal, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. After receiving all the results, an effective treatment will be prescribed.
The most commonly prescribed specialists are hepatoprotectors( Galstena, Essentiale N, Karsil, etc.) and cholagogue preparations( Apollo, Holenzym, Odeston and others).The first group of medicines helps to restore liver cells and protects them later.
The second group is used as a substitute for defective bile, which negatively affects the whole work of the digestive tract. In addition to drug therapy, specialists are assigned a special diet that will facilitate the alleviation of the pathological condition.
Diet in case of pain
If there is discomfort in the abdomen, many people begin to look for ways to solve the problem. But most of them do not realize that changing the diet significantly affects the state of the body during the period of exacerbation.
There are products recommended and banned for use by gastroenterologists.
Prohibited food | Foods allowed |
Fried dishes( vegetables, meat, etc.) | Vegetable and meat( nonfat) broths |
Smoked, seasoned and spicy food | Buckwheat, buckwheat and rice porridge |
Alcoholic beverages of any strength | Wholemeal bread, high quality pasta |
Meat, poultry and fish of fatty varieties | Potatoes in uniform |
Canned fruits and vegetables, marinades | Vegetables and fruits that have undergone heat treatment |
Animal oil | Fresheggs |
Beans and mushrooms | Cheese from low-fat milk |
Baked cakes, cakes, cakes, etc. | Gallet biscuit |
Food should be divided, that is, in frequent but small portions( at least 6 meals a day).In addition, experts recommend reducing the amount of salt consumed and preparing products preferably on steam and in the oven. Drink preferably mineral water, with a high content of alkali.