Guide To The Causes Of Liver Pain

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition where a patient's liver cells are progressively replaced by fibrous strands of scar tissue. The scar tissue that replaces normal liver cells does not function in the way the original cells do, and can block blood flow through the liver as a result. Long term damage to the liver tissues is required for cirrhosis to develop in an affected individual. As scar tissue accumulates in the liver and its function becomes compromised, symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, appetite loss, weakness, and pain in the upper abdominal region will appear. In the severe stage, the patient may experience a higher degree of pain in the abdomen that radiates up their right arm. This pain is the result of inflammation and a lack of blood flow to tissues in the liver or hypoxia. This deprivation of oxygen occurs due to the pressure scar tissue places on the blood vessels in the liver.

Discover additional causes of liver pain now.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a disease where too much fat builds up in an individual's liver. The liver holds a large responsibility when it comes to the breakdown and synthesis of fats in the body, and when this function is compromised, the excess fats begin to deposit in the liver tissues when they have nowhere else to go. This fatty tissue can produce toxic byproducts that may induce a reaction by the immune system. This immune response causes inflammation and damage to the liver tissues. The body repairs damaged liver tissues with dense, fibrous strands that form scar tissue, and the patient's liver disease can progress to cirrhosis. The symptoms of the early stages of nonalcoholic liver disease present include right upper abdominal pain, enlarged liver, belly swelling, and jaundice. Pain in the liver may also be the result of an enlarged fatty liver pressing on nearby nerves.

Get more details on the various causes behind liver pain now.