7 Causes of liver pain

Liver pain is a pain located in the upper right region of the abdomen and can be a sign of diseases such as infections, obesity, cholesterol or cancer or it can happen due to exposure to toxic substances such as alcohol, detergents or even medications.

Treatment depends on the disease that causes it and the associated symptoms, however, it can also be prevented with vaccination, correct nutrition, physical exercise or avoiding risky behaviors such as sharing syringes or engaging in unprotected sex.

1. Infection

The liver can be infected by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites, causing inflammation and changes in its functioning. The most common types of liver infection are hepatitis A, B and C, transmitted by viruses, which in addition to causing liver pain, can cause symptoms such as loss of appetite, feeling sick and vomiting, tiredness, pain in muscles and joints, pain head, sensitivity to light, light stools, dark urine, yellow skin and eyes.

Hepatitis A can be transmitted through contact with contaminated water or food, and hepatitis B and C are usually transmitted through contact with contaminated blood or secretions and can be asymptomatic, but treatment is still needed to prevent liver damage.

How to treat it: The treatment for hepatitis consists of the use of medications such as Interferon, lamivudine or adefovir for about 6 to 11 months, depending on the type of hepatitis and the response to treatment, and an easy-to-digest diet should also be eaten. based on gelatin, fish or rice, for example. See more easily digestible foods.

Hepatitis is curable most of the time, but when treatment is not done correctly, it increases the risk of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer. This disease can also be prevented with hepatitis A and B vaccines, using condoms during sexual intercourse, avoiding the sharing of syringes and adopting good hygiene measures. Learn more about preventing the transmission of the hepatitis virus.

2. Autoimmune diseases

In people with autoimmune diseases, their immune system attacks the body itself and can also affect the liver. Examples of these diseases are autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare disease, in which the body attacks the cells of the liver itself causing it to become inflamed and causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, yellow skin or nausea. Primary biliary cirrhosis, on the other hand, consists of the progressive destruction of bile ducts located in the liver, and sclerosing cholangitis causes their narrowing causing fatigue and itching, or even cirrhosis and liver failure.

How to treat: Autoimmune hepatitis can be cured if a liver transplant is done, in the most severe cases. However, the disease can be controlled with the use of corticosteroid drugs, such as prednisone, or immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine. In addition, you should eat a balanced diet, avoiding the intake of alcohol and foods with a lot of fat. See which foods are suitable for autoimmune hepatitis.

In primary biliary cirrhosis and sclerosing cholangitis, ursodeoxycholic acid is the treatment of choice, and if it starts as soon as the first symptoms appear, it can slow the progression of the disease, preventing the occurrence of cirrhosis. In a terminal phase, the only treatment that cures the disease is liver transplantation.

3. Genetic diseases

Pain in the liver region can also be caused by genetic diseases that lead to the accumulation of toxic substances in the liver, such as hereditary hemochromatosis, which causes excess iron accumulation in the body, oxaluria, which leads to an increase in oxalic acid in the liver. or Wilson's disease, in which there is an accumulation of copper.

How to treat: Hemochromatosis can be treated by avoiding foods with large amounts of iron, such as red meat, spinach or green beans, for example. See more foods that contain iron.

In the case of oxaluria, one should reduce the consumption of oxalate present in spinach and walnuts for example and, in more severe cases, it may be necessary to resort to dialysis or liver and kidney transplants. Wilson's disease can be treated by reducing the intake of copper-rich foods, such as mussels or by taking substances that bind to copper, helping to eliminate it in the urine such as penicillamine or zinc acetate, for example. See more about Wilson's disease.

4. Excess alcohol

Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages, which cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, for example, and if left untreated, it can cause severe liver damage.

How to treat: Treatment consists of suspending alcohol intake and using medications such as ursodeoxycholic acid or phosphatidylcholine, which reduce inflammation of the liver and relieve symptoms. In the most severe cases, a liver transplant may be necessary.

5. Drug abuse

Medicinal hepatitis is caused by exposure to toxic substances, overuse of medications or even due to allergic reactions to these, which can cause liver cell damage.

How to treat: The treatment consists of the immediate suspension of the drug or toxic substance that is the source of the problem and, in more severe cases, the use of corticosteroids may be necessary until the normal functioning of the liver.

6. Cancer

Liver cancer can affect hepatocytes, bile ducts and blood vessels and is generally very aggressive, which can cause pain in the abdomen, nausea, loss of appetite and yellow eyes, for example. See more symptoms of liver cancer.

How to treat: It is usually necessary to resort to surgery to remove the affected liver region, and it may be necessary to undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy before performing it, in order to reduce the size of the cancer.

7. Fat accumulation

The accumulation of fat in the liver is common in people with obesity, high cholesterol or diabetes, and may be asymptomatic or cause symptoms such as pain in the right side of the abdomen, swollen belly, nausea and vomiting.

How to treat: The treatment for fat in the liver consists of regular physical exercise and an adequate diet based on white meats and vegetables. If there is a change in blood cholesterol levels, the doctor may indicate the use of medications for control. Watch the following video and see the tips from our nutritionist, the recommended diet for fatty liver:

Other symptoms of liver problem

Check the symptoms below and find out if you may have a liver problem or what other diseases may be related:

1. 1. Pain in the upper right belly Yes No
2. 2. Frequent feeling sick or dizzy Yes No
3. 3. Frequent headache Yes No
4. 4. Easy tiredness for no apparent reason Yes No
5. 5. Ease of getting bruises Yes No
6. 6. Yellowish color in the eyes or skin Yes No
7. 7. Dark urine Yes No
8. 8. Loss of appetite Yes No
9. 9. Yellowish, gray or whitish stools Yes No
10. 10. Swollen belly Yes No
11. 11. Itching all over the body Yes No

Home remedy for liver pain

A great home remedy to relieve and treat liver problems is thistle tea, which has silymarin in its composition, very effective in biliary disorders, hepatitis, fatty liver, toxic liver diseases or even liver cirrhosis.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons of thistle fruit; 1 glass of boiling water.

Method of preparation

Pour a glass of boiling water over the crushed fruits of thistle and let stand for about 10 minutes. The recommended dose is 3 to 4 cups a day.

How to prevent liver pain

Pain in the liver region can be prevented if the following precautions are taken:

• Drink alcohol in moderation; Avoid risky behaviors such as having unprotected sex, using drugs, or sharing syringes, for example; Take vaccines against the hepatitis A and B viruses; Use medications sparingly, avoiding drug interactions; Wear a mask and protect the skin when using toxic products contained in paints and detergents, for example;

In addition, it is also very important to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet, with foods that help to detoxify the liver, such as lemon or artichoke, for example. See more foods that detoxify the liver.

When to go to the doctor

You should go to the doctor when abdominal pain becomes severe and persistent or when it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as yellow skin and eyes, swelling in the legs, generalized itching of the skin, presence of dark urine and light or bloody stools, loss weight, tiredness, nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite.

During the consultation, the doctor will perform a physical examination in order to understand where it hurts and may ask several questions about other symptoms and eating habits, and may order some tests such as ultrasound, MRI or tomography, blood tests or liver biopsy. See what these exams consist of.