Fatty Liver, as the name suggests, is the excessive build-up of fat in the liver of about 5-10% of the liver’s weight. Most of the time, it’s not a serious concern, but in some cases, it is something to fret about, as it leads to liver damage.
It starts with inflammation, causing the tissues to damage. The medical term for this first stage is steatohepatitis. In the second stage, scar tissue begins to form, which in turn damages the liver. Doctors call it fibrosis.
In the third and final stage, the healthy tissues get replaced by extensive scar tissue. This is when cirrhosis of the liver occurs. It is a final blow to the liver, whereby liver functioning starts slowing down. Sooner or later, the liver function gets blocked entirely. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this cirrhosis transpires into liver cancer or liver failure in patients.
Do you now get why fatty liver disease is a thing to panic about?
Forms of Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease has two primary forms:
- Alcohol-induced – As hinted, it is caused by heavy drinking.
- Non-alcoholic – Alternatively called NAFLD or Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, the cause is still unknown, but diabetes and obesity have been said to increase the risk of occurrence.
Symptoms to Pay Attention
The symptoms of fatty liver are often silent unless the disease progresses to liver cirrhosis. The signs to watch out for are:
■ Weight loss, appetite loss, and nausea
■ Extreme weakness, exhaustion, and mental confusion
■ Jaundice
■ Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen
■ Edema or swollen legs and abdomen
If you ever feel any of the symptoms above, be prompt and book an appointment with a hepatologist for diagnostic services. The next section covers the Liver function tests, or a diagnosis that a doctor may order.
Diagnosis
Fatty liver silently creeps in, and for a layperson, it is challenging to spot the same. However, a doctor can easily determine the condition by noticing the elevation in liver enzymes from blood tests done for other ailments. To map the liver injury, a doctor often orders the tests mentioned below:
■ A liver biopsy to check the stage the liver disease has reached
■ Ultrasound or a CT Scan to examine the liver condition
■ FibroScan to determine the fat content in the liver
Treatment for Fatty Liver Disease
Unfortunately, there is no medication for treating fatty liver disease. Doctors primarily advise altering lifestyles to improve health conditions. Therefore, the treatment mostly comprises the following:
■ Reducing weight
■ Intake of thiazolidinediones or vitamin E
■ Avoiding alcohol consumption
■ Intake of medications to control cholesterol, diabetes, and triglycerides
How to Prevent Fatty Liver Disease?
If you have not been hit by fatty liver disease, you can do the following to maintain your overall health:
■ Get yourself involved in regular exercise
■ Maintain a healthy weight
■ Take prescribed medications
■ Put a check on alcohol consumption
Reverse Your Fatty Liver Disease!
Yes, you read it right. It can be either through a weight loss program or by avoiding alcohol. A Mediterranean diet, where one needs to consume lots of vegetables, fruits, and good fats, can lead to steady weight loss. So, if you are living with the ailment, don’t worry! Just make sure it never progresses into liver cirrhosis, and even if it does, go for immediate treatment to prevent liver failure or cancer.