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What does hepatitis mean in medical terms?
Can liver inflammation damage the liver?
Can chronic liver inflammation cause fibrosis?
What is an enlarged liver?
What are the symptoms of liver disease?
What is fatty liver disease?
Sep 29, 2024 · This article describes the causes, symptoms, and complications of liver inflammation. It also explains how liver inflammation is diagnosed and treated and ways to reduce your risk of hepatitis in any of its many forms.
Symptoms of liver disease. Most types of liver disease do not cause any symptoms in the early stages. Once you start to get symptoms of liver disease, your liver is already damaged and scarred. This is known as cirrhosis. Symptoms of cirrhosis include: feeling very tired and weak all the time; loss of appetite – which may lead to weight loss
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An enlarged liver might not cause symptoms.
When enlarged liver results from liver disease, it might be accompanied by:
•Abdominal pain
•Fatigue
•Nausea and vomiting
•Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
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Liver diseasesCancersHeart and blood vessel problemsYou're more likely to develop an enlarged liver if you have a liver disease. Factors that can increase your risk of liver problems include:
•Excessive alcohol use. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can be damaging to your liver.
•Large doses of medicines, vitamins or supplements. Taking larger than recommended doses of vitamins, supplements, or over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicines can increase your risk of liver damage.
Acetaminophen overdose is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Besides being the ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as Tylenol, it's in more than 600 medications, both OTC and prescription.
Know what's in the medications you take. Read labels. Look for "acetaminophen," "acetam" or "APAP." Check with your doctor if you're not sure what's too much.
•Herbal supplements. Certain supplements, including black cohosh, ma huang and valerian, can increase your risk of liver damage.
To reduce your risk of liver disease, you can:
•Eat a healthy diet. Choose a diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
•Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Check with your doctor to find out what's the right amount of alcohol for you, if any.
•Follow directions when taking medications, vitamins or supplements. Limit yourself to the recommended doses.
•Limit contact with chemicals. Use aerosol cleaners, insecticides and other toxic chemicals only in well-ventilated areas. Wear gloves, long sleeves and a mask.
•Maintain a healthy weight. Eat a balanced diet and limit foods that are high in sugar and fat. If you're overweight, ask your doctor or a nutritionist about the best way for you to lose weight.
•A Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition
•Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition
Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the liver. It's usually the result of a viral infection or liver damage caused by drinking alcohol. There are several different types of hepatitis.
Inflammation is often caused by a build-up of fat in your liver. On this page: What causes hepatitis? What happens if I have hepatitis? Can I stop hepatitis? Getting help. What causes hepatitis? In a healthy liver. Your liver has lots of jobs. So it is normal for liver cells to get worn out or damaged. This causes inflammation.
Inflammation is your liver’s response to injury or toxicity. It’s an attempt to purge infections and start the healing process. Acute hepatitis (an immediate and temporary response) often accomplishes this.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by a build-up of fat in the liver. It often affects overweight or obese people. Although NAFLD doesn't usually cause serious problems, you should take steps to stop it getting worse.
