Read on to learn seven key facts about your spleen. Splenectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your spleen. The first step is to figure out what is causing your enlarged spleen. If you've been diagnosed with an enlarged spleen, ask your doctor whether you need to avoid activities for several weeks that could cause it to rupture. Most often, this occurs when the spleen ruptures after an abdominal injury, but it's also necessary as ⦠It Helps Filter Blood. But It’s Tough to Know if Your Spleen Has Gotten Too Big The spleen is a fist-sized organ found in the upper left side of your abdomen, next to your ⦠You may also live somewhere that has different infectious agents than other places do. They may also have pinpoint red spots on their legs. Your spleen also plays an important part in your immune system, which helps your body fight infection. Likewise, if you live or travel to areas where the Babesia parasite is found, you would be at greater risk without a spleen. This would especially be on Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, but also Block Island off Rhode Island and Shelter Island, Fire Island, and eastern Long Island—all part of New York State. Thereâs are a number of things you need to be mindful of and adjust in your daily life in order to thrive without a spleen. Not to worry: It won’t affect your health, though it can be mistaken for a tumor. People who have no spleens are more likely to get sick from certain types of bacteria, particularly encapsulated bacteria (bacteria that have a thick outer carbohydrate covering). Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria used to be the top cause of bacterial meningitis in kids under 5 until the vaccine started to be used. Updated November 21, 2019. Due to injury or necessary surgery (splenectomy), some people are lacking a spleen, the organ that filters the bloodstream and helps the body fight infection. It was also carried out at times to stage diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma in order to decide the best treatment. Your spleen is a non-essential organ, but that doesnât mean everything will be exactly the same after you undergo spleen surgery. There are many reasons why a spleen might become enlarged. Clin Infect Dis. 1964;77:652–654. If your spleen is too damaged, you might need surgery to remove it. In your high school science or anatomy class, you probably learned about something called vestigial organs, which are basically part of the body (of humans, animals, insects, etc.) Yes, you can live without your spleen. By avoiding foods that cause the spleen to work, you free the spleen to work on self-repair and cleansing. It's something a doctor or another medical professional should check out. If you are suffering from an enlarged spleen, you need to take some precautions to prevent further damage. Along with taking your enzymes regularly, you also need to know how much you need. One of the most common is mononucleosis (mono) caused by the Epstein Barr virus (EBV).. Merck Manual Consumer Version. The spleen is purplish in color, and some would say it resembles a small catcher’s mitt. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). There are four things you should get vaccines against:. If you are on a fat-rich diet, you will require more enzymes for proper digestion. It protects against four strains of N. meningitidis (Serogroups A, C, W-135, and Y). The spleen helps to filter and maintain healthy red and white blood cells and platelets and also plays a role in the function of the immune system. Notify your primary care physician that you have no spleen. Influenza deaths can occur because the lung's immune defenses are breached and exhausted by the virus, allowing a fatal bacterial infection. Updated October 16, 2018. 1977;2(8029):127-9. The spleen plays important roles in regard to red blood cells (erythrocytes) and the immune system. You don't need your spleen to live, but your health can be drastically affected by its removal. “Now we know there is use for the spleen.” One relatively recent discovery is the spleen’s role in producing red blood cells early in life. If you clinch your fist really tight, that’s about the size of your spleen. Because your spleen is in constant contact with your blood, blood-cleansing herbs directly cleanse and protect your spleen. Splenectomy leads to a persistent hypercoagulable state after trauma. Certain diseases might cause your spleen to swell. Robinette CD, Fraumeni JF. You are at increased risk for meningococcal type B disease because you do not have a functioning spleen. You do not need your spleen to live a normal, healthy life. Taking antibiotics regularly can have unintended consequences. Contact sports should be avoided, as enlarged spleen can get easily torn and start bleeding, which causes serious complications. 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