What it means:
Your spleen—an organ on the upper left side of your abdomen—acts like a filter for your blood. Sometimes, a small clot (an embolus) can travel through the bloodstream and block one of the arteries that supply the spleen. When this happens, the bit of spleen fed by that artery loses its blood supply for a while and becomes bruised or damaged; doctors call that area an infarct.
Why it happens:
Clots can form in the heart if the pumping is weak or irregular (for example, in people with severe heart failure or an irregular rhythm). Pieces of a clot can then drift downstream and lodge in the spleen.
What people feel:
Some notice sharp pain or tenderness under the ribs on the left side, sometimes with fever or nausea. Others don’t feel much at all and the finding shows up on a scan.
Treatment and outlook:
Usually the body heals the damaged patch on its own. Doctors focus on treating the cause—often using blood thinners to stop new clots forming—and keeping pain under control. Only rarely is surgery needed.
Take-home message:
A splenic infarct sounds frightening, but in most cases it’s a sign that the body took a small hit and is now being protected from further trouble.
Support Raymond Year-Round
Raymond Brian Duggan, Immingham
Subscribe today and we'll share 50% of the profits directly with Raymond, meaning they can earn up to £75 per year from your subscription. Every time your subscription renews, they'll continue receiving this income — support that lasts for life.
1 Year £199.99
Every week, The Big Issue reports on the biggest issues facing people in the UK and the world, brings exclusive interviews with cultural heavyweights, challenges orthodoxy, and gives a voice to the marginalised.
Free weekly delivery of your magazine.
Comments
Post a Comment