Fatty liver disease is a common disorder that comes from storing extra fat in the liver. Some people do not have symptoms, and that does not cause them serious problems. However, in some cases this can lead to damage to the liver. The good news is that lifestyle changes can often avoid or even reverse fatty liver disease.
Liver’s Function
Your liver is an essential organ with multiple life-supporting functions. The liver
-
Bile is produced which helps with digestion.
-
Makes proteins for the body.
-
It Stores iron.
-
It Converts nutrients into energy.
-
Creates substances that help your blood clot (stick together to heal wounds).
-
Helps you to avoid infections by making immune factors and eliminating bacteria and toxins from your blood (substances that can harm your body).
Stages of Fatty Liver
Fatty Liver can progress in 4 stages:
-
Simple Fatty Liver – The liver contains an accumulation of excess fat.
-
Steatohepatitis – There is inflammation in the liver aside from excess fat.
-
Fibrosis – Inflammation has caused scarring in the liver.
-
Cirrhosis – Damaging of the liver has become widespread.
Cirrhosis is a Life – Dangerous condition that could cause hepatic insufficiency. That could have been irreversible. This is why it is so important not to rise first.
Follow the doctor’s recommended treatment plan to help avoid the fatty liver from worsening and causing complications.
Types of Liver Fatty Diseases
There are two types of fatty liver disease:
Alcoholic Liver Disease
Alcoholic fatty liver is the heavy drinking causing accumulation of fat in the liver. (Moderate drinking is described as one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.) Approximately 5% of people in the United States have this type of liver illness.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
For people who aren’t heavy drinkers, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease exists. The condition affects one in three adults in the United States, and one in ten children. The exact cause of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has not been found by researchers. A number of factors can increase your risk, such as obesity and diabetes.
Causes of Fatty Liver Disease
-
Many people develop fatty liver disease with no pre – existing conditions. But those factors of risk make you more likely to grow.
-
Being obese or overweight.
-
Having Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.
-
Metabolic syndrome (resistance to insulin, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels);
-
Taking certain prescription medications, such as diltiazem (Cardizem®), tamoxifen (Nolvadex®), amiodarone (Cordarone®), or steroids.
-
Extreme tiredness or mental confusion.
-
Weakness.
Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease
People with fatty liver disease often have no symptoms until the disease progresses to cirrhosis of the liver. If you do have symptoms, they may include
-
Abdominal pain or a feeling of fullness in the upper right side of the abdomen (belly).
-
Nausea, loss of appetite or weight loss.
-
Yellowish skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).
-
Swollen abdomen and legs (edema).
-
Extreme tiredness or mental confusion.
-
Weakness.