What are signs of problems with your spleen?
Symptoms
- Pain or fullness in the left upper belly that can spread to the left shoulder.
- A feeling of fullness without eating or after eating a small amount because the spleen is pressing on your stomach.
- Low red blood cells (anemia)
- Frequent infections.
- Bleeding easily.
What foods inflame the spleen?
Think of the spleen as being powered by heat. Frozen food, icy drinks, cucumber, bitter or winter melon, lettuce and grapefruit deplete the spleen’s “fire”. Foods that are “damp” – such as dairy products, refined sugars and sweets – can also smother the digestive process.
Can coffee irritate your spleen?
Coffee moves qi and blood and has a dispersing quality both ascending (stimulating the mind and lifting the spirit) and descending (purgative, diuretic and increased peristalsis). Its flavour is sweet and bitter and is therefore associated with the spleen and heart organs.
What aggravates the spleen?
What are the most common problems with the spleen?
Spleen: Function, Location & Problems 1 Lacerated spleen or ruptured spleen. 2 Enlarged spleen. 3 Spleen cancer. 4 Spleen removal. 5 Additional Resources.
Where is the spleen located in the body?
The spleen is a small organ inside your left rib cage, just above the stomach. It’s part of the lymphatic system (which is part of the immune system). The spleen stores and filters blood and makes white blood cells that protect you from infection. Many diseases and conditions can affect how the spleen works.
Can a person feel the spleen in the abdomen?
Due to the shielding by the ribs, one cannot feel the spleen by pressing the abdomen. The spleen functions as a filter for the blood. A large population of the immune cells also live in the spleen.
Can a doctor tell if you have an enlarged spleen?
An enlarged spleen usually doesn’t cause symptoms. It’s often discovered during a routine physical exam. A doctor usually can’t feel the spleen in an adult unless it’s enlarged. Imaging and blood tests can help identify the cause of an enlarged spleen.