Enlarged Spleen (Splenomegaly)

Your spleen is a normally fist-sized organ that’s located on the upper left side of your abdomen, under your left ribcage. Your spleen belongs to your lymphatic system and your immune system. It filters your blood, removes waste products and produces white blood cells to fight infections. Conditions affecting the spleen itself or the blood that passes through it can cause it to become swollen and enlarged.

A normal, healthy spleen is up to 12 cm long and 70 g in weight. An enlarged spleen may be up to 20 cm long and can weigh more than 1,000 g. Several things can cause your spleen to enlarge, including inflammation, fat storage, pooled blood, benign or malignant growths and overproduction of cells. Some causes are temporary and others may indicate a chronic or progressive condition.

Is an enlarged spleen serious?

An enlarged spleen is a symptom of many different conditions, some more serious than others. Your healthcare provider will need to investigate the underlying cause to determine if you need treatment. If an enlarged spleen goes untreated for a long time, it could eventually begin to malfunction. In rare cases, a severely enlarged spleen could rupture, which could cause internal bleeding.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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