What is Fatty Liver And How To Diagnose It?

Your liver is the second largest organ in the body, responsible for around 500 or even more different functions, essential to keep you on the go. Being the heaviest organ, it processes nutrients from whatever you eat or drink and flushes out toxins. Its healthy functioning is a must for overall well-being. Any problem with it can affect its functioning and ultimately put your health at risk. Nowadays, thanks to the sedentary lifestyle, increased alcohol consumption, and obesity, liver diseases are spreading more rapidly than ever before.

Liver diseases are not one or more, but many. And among all, fatty liver is the most common one. It is a silent epidemic that needs to be controlled. Don’t be surprised, it is serious, and the worst part is that it can stay within your body without symptoms for years and come to light once reached the advanced stage. If you are wondering what it is, what are your risks, how to diagnose it, and how to manage it, this blog has all the answers. So, let’s scroll down to unveil information about the disease, symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and treatment.

Also Read: Fatty Liver: 35% of Indians suffer from fatty liver and here's why early detection is important

What is Fatty Liver?

Also called Hepatic Steatosis, Fatty Liver is a disease that causes excess fat buildup in the liver. Having a small amount of fat in the liver is common, but if the amount is exceeding the standard range, it can put your health at risk, cause liver inflammation, and increase the chances of scarring that can lead to liver failure. Timely attention and action are essential to control the damage. But for that, knowing its types, symptoms, and risk factors is paramount. Don’t worry, we’ve got everything here that you need to know about the disease.

Types Of Fatty Liver Diseases:

Fatty Liver is classified into two categories, such as:

• Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Often called NAFLD, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of liver diseases. As the name implies, it is common to develop among people who drink little to no alcohol. Being associated with excess fat storage in the liver cells, NAFLD is growing globally at a higher pace. It is further divided into two subcategories, named:
  • Simple Fatty Liver: Simple Fatty Liver, also called Steatohepatitis, is usually harmless (if doesn’t progress and is addressed timely) and is associated with excess fat in your liver.
  • Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): Being another common form of NAFLD, NASH causes liver cell damage, which, if not addressed, can lead to problems such as scarring and liver cancer.
• Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: As the name implies, Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) is associated with heavy drinking. The condition is highly preventable and curable by limiting the use of alcohol in your life. Your liver majorly breaks down the alcohol and turns it into a harmful substance that causes inflammation, cause damage, and affects your body’s natural defenses. ALD, if not addressed in time, can progress through these 3 types:
  • Enlarged Liver: Medically referred hepatomegaly, the enlarged liver is not a disease but a sign of an underlying condition, implying swelling in the liver beyond the standard size. It needs immediate attention, or else it starts inducing pain and discomfort.
  • Alcoholic Hepatitis: Caused due to excess drinking, Alcoholic Hepatitis is a severe syndrome related to liver inflammation.
  • Alcoholic Cirrhosis: Being the most severe and advanced stage of liver disease, Alcoholic cirrhosis happens in patients who have been drinking too much for a long period. The condition is irreversible and impairs the liver’s ability to function.

Neither nonalcoholic fatty liver disease nor alcoholic fatty liver disease is good. Both can turn into something dreadful if not addressed in time. Therefore, one has to closely pay attention to the signs and get screened to initiate the treatment. Acting before the eleventh hour is essential to turn the table in your favor, and for that, you first need to identify the signs associated with it. So, let’s talk about them.

In general, fatty liver disease often develops no symptoms until the advanced stage. However, in some cases, one might experience unusual abdominal pain, unexplained exhaustion, or weakness. Since there are no symptoms, the disease progresses silently. Your doctor may recommend getting tested for it based on your medical history, physical examination, or other liver tests that show elevated liver enzymes.

Fatty Liver is common, and one can develop it without having a pre-existing condition. However, some factors might increase one’s risk of developing the ailment.

Factors That Contribute To High Risk For Fatty Liver:

• Obesity
• Metabolic syndrome
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Certain medications
• Exposure to certain toxins
• High blood pressure & high cholesterol
• Have underlying infections such as Hepatitis C

Getting tested in time and taking preventive measures is the key to controlling the damage. Therefore, if your doctor has suggested the test, take it seriously and get screened before the eleventh hour.

Fatty Liver – Diagnosis Is The Key

Fatty Liver usually has no symptoms at the start, which delays the diagnosis until the later stage and increases hazards. Your doctor may suggest an ultrasound or liver biopsy to diagnose the condition and check how far it has developed. The earlier it is diagnosed, the more manageable it will become.

No proven medicines have been associated with Fatty Liver Disease, and your doctor may prescribe the treatment depending on your symptoms to ease them. Other than that, some ways can help your liver heal naturally, such as:

• Lose weight, if you are obese
• Switch to an active lifestyle
• Indulge some exercise in your routine
• Say no to alcohol
• Adopt a healthy diet
• Take medications as prescribed

Other than that, your doctor may suggest a routine Liver Function Test, to evaluate the health of your liver. It helps measure certain types of enzymes that might indicate fatty liver. Abnormalities detected at the early stage can be in your favor, as it can help limit the damage and make the condition manageable.

For most people, fatty liver causes no serious harm, but, if left untreated and progressed into cirrhosis or else, it can lead to several complications and even liver failure (in severe conditions only). Our liver can repair itself. So, if the damage is diagnosed early and all preventive measures have been taken, it increases the probability of reversing early liver damage. Therefore, a routine examination of your liver is essential to track and act in time.

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Love Your Liver As Your Life Is Dependent On It

Living without a liver is not possible. Hence, taking care of its health should be your topmost priority today, tomorrow, and every day. Switch to a healthy lifestyle, active lifestyle, liver-friendly diet, and routine LFT test to stay ahead of complications. Embrace healthy liver for a healthy life.