Can an enlarged liver be reversed?
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.
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.
Is an 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.
What foods to avoid if you have an enlarged liver?
Stay away from sugary foods such as candy, cookies, sodas, and fruit juices. High blood sugar increases the amount of fat buildup in the liver.
Is an enlarged liver the same as a fatty liver?
Hepatomegaly is the medical term for an enlarged liver. It is a symptom of disease, not a disease in itself. Some conditions that can cause hepatomegaly include fatty liver diseases, alcohol use disorder, hepatitis, and cancer. A person may have hepatomegaly and not be aware that they have it.
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).
How long does it take to heal your liver?
The liver, however, is able to replace damaged tissue with new cells. If up to 50 to 60 percent of the liver cells may be killed within three to four days in an extreme case like a Tylenol overdose, the liver will repair completely after 30 days if no complications arise.
Can the liver heal itself?
The liver has a unique capacity among organs to regenerate itself after damage. A liver can regrow to a normal size even after up to 90% of it has been removed. But the liver isn't invincible. Many diseases and exposures can harm it beyond the point of repair.