The second-largest organ in human body is the ‘liver’. It aids in the digestion of nutrients from food and purges your blood of dangerous chemicals. The term "fatty liver disease" refers to a range of disorders in which extra fat deposits build up in the liver cells. When it is not related to alcohol intake, it is known as "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease" or "NAFLD". Hepatic steatosis is another term for a fatty liver.
A liver with too much fat in it, may develop inflammation, which is harmful, can lead to scarring and in a few patients can progress to cause liver failure.
Why fatty liver disease has become more common?
Fatty liver disease is becoming more prevalent due to an individual's sedentary lifestyle, which includes physical inactivity and unhealthy food choices including consumption of high-calorie foods. This is also known as lifestyle disease.
What signs and symptoms indicate fatty liver?
Having a fatty liver typically has no symptoms. However, you can feel weary or have pain or discomfort in your right upper abdomen. Fatty liver disease over long duration can cause liver scarring (fibrosis) in a few persons. Fibrosis of the livercan subsequently lead to liver cirrhosis.
Early signs of cirrhosis can include anorexia, weight loss, weakness, and weariness. It might result in jaundice, bloody vomiting, confusion, and disorientation in the later stages.
In today’s world, if we do Ultrasound and Liver function testof ‘normal’ population, a significant proportion of patients would be detected to have fatty liver disease.
What is the treatment for fatty liver disease?
Treatment options include lifestyle modifications, drugs, and obesity surgery, depending on the stage of fatty liver. Most of the time, lifestyle modifications including limiting or avoiding alcohol, losing body weight, and dietary changes can help reverse fatty liver disease.
You require medications, if condition worsen. Disease which has progressed to fibrosis and cirrhosis, may need other medications and a patient who has progressed to liver failure, would need liver transplant.
Two pillars of fatty liver treatment
Diet
