Fatty liver disease is a disorder characterized by excess fat buildup in the liver.It occurs when fat accumulates in the liver. Small levels of fat in your liver are natural, but too much can be harmful to your health.
It is your body’s second largest organ. It aids in the digestion of nutrients and the removal of toxic toxins from your blood.Too much fat in your liver can induce inflammation, which can damage and scar your liver. Scarring can cause liver failure in severe circumstances.
The role of the liver
The liver is a vital organ with numerous life-sustaining activities. The liver includes of:
- Bile production facilitates digestion.
- Creates proteins throughout the body.
- Holds iron.
- The conversion of nutrients to energy.
- Produces chemicals that aid in blood clotting (stick together to heal wounds).
- Produces immunological factors and removes bacteria and toxins (substances that can harm the body) from the blood, thereby enhancing resistance to infection.
Why is fatty liver disease scary?
Fatty liver disease, in most situations, does not create major difficulties or prevent your liver from functioning normally. However, fatty liver disease worsens with time in 7% to 30% of patients with the condition. It is divided into three stages:
- Your liver becomes inflamed (swollen), causing tissue damage. Steatohepatitis is the medical term for this stage.
- Scar tissue develops where your liver is injured. This is known as fibrosis.
- Scar tissue replaces healthy tissue on a large scale. You have liver cirrhosis at this time.
Which is worse, fatty liver or cirrhosis of the liver?
Cirrhosis of the liver is caused by extensive liver injury. The hard scar tissue that replaces healthy liver tissue impairs the function of the liver. It can eventually completely disable liver function. Cirrhosis can result in liver failure and malignancy.That is why it is critical to keep it from forming in the first place.
Cirrhosis can induce the following symptoms:
- stomach ache
- appetite loss
- weight loss, tiredness, or weakness
- nausea
- yellow skin and eyes, itching skin
- bruising or bleeding easily
- dark-colored urine
- pale stools
- fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites)
- swelling (edema) of your legs
- web-like clusters of blood vessels under your skin
- breast enlargement in men
- confusion
It is critical to follow your doctor’s recommended treatment plan to help prevent fatty liver from developing and causing issues.
Types of fatty liver disease
Fatty liver disease is classified into two types:
1. Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) – A lot of alcohol is bad for your liver. The earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease is known as alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD).
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs when fat accumulates in the liver of individuals who do not consume a large amount of alcohol.Obesity and diabetes, for example, can raise your risk of getting NAFLD.
The cause of fatty liver disease
Some people develop fatty liver disease without having any other medical issues. However, the following risk factors increase your chances of developing it:
- Obesity or overweight, Type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistance
- The metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high triglyceride levels).
- Taking prescription drugs like amiodarone, diltiazem, tamoxifen, or steroids.
Diagnosis of fatty liver
To determine if you have fatty liver, your doctor will review your medical history, perform a physical exam, and perform one or more tests.If your doctor suspects you have a fatty liver, he or she would most likely ask you questions about:
- The medical history of your family, particularly any history of liver illness or liver cancer
- Any medical conditions you may have may be exacerbated by your alcohol usage and other lifestyle behaviors.
- Medication history
- Changes in your health recently
If you’ve been experiencing exhaustion, loss of appetite, or other inexplicable symptoms, notify your doctor.
What should I expect from my blood results if I have fatty liver disease?
Fatty liver disease is frequently diagnosed when blood tests reveal increased liver enzymes. To examine your liver enzymes, your doctor may test the level of the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).
These tests may be recommended by your doctor if you’ve acquired signs or symptoms of liver disease, or they may be conducted as part of normal blood work.Elevated liver enzymes indicate liver inflammation. Fatty liver disease is one possible cause of liver inflammation, but it is far from the only one.If your liver enzyme levels are elevated, your doctor will most likely carry out more tests to determine the origin of the inflammation.
Is fatty liver treatable and reversible?
There are currently no medications authorized to treat fatty liver disease. More research is required to discover and test treatments for this condition.Lifestyle adjustments can often help reverse most stages of fatty liver disease. For instance, your doctor may advise you to:
- Limit or avoid alcohol consumption.
- Start to lose weight
- Make dietary modifications.
- Avoid drugs and supplements that have detrimental effects on your liver.
In general, the prognosis for fatty liver disease is greatest when treatment begins early, before fibrosis and cirrhosis develop.It is critical to follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan and adopt an overall healthy lifestyle for the greatest results.
Always go to your doctor or ask a doctor if you experience any abnormal signs or symptoms.
