Fatty liver- Symptoms, Causes, Treatment




 Fatty liver, also known as Hepatic Steatosis occurs when the fat builds up in the liver. It is said that small amount of fat in the liver is normal but when it becomes too much it can create health issues. The liver is the second largest organ of the body which helps to process the nutrients from food and drinks and eliminates harmful substances from the blood. In case of too much of fat in the liver, it can damage the liver and create scarring. This can further lead to liver failure. When someone who consumes too much of alcohol is affected, it is known as Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease(AFLD) and someone who has not consumed alcohol suffers form such a diseases, then it is known as Non- Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). 


Symptoms Of Fatty Liver

In many cases the fatty liver usually has no symptoms. But a sense of tiredness or discomfort is felt on the upper right of the abdomen. Some people with fatty liver undergo complications like liver scarring or liver fibrosis. The most commonly observed symptoms are-

  • loss of appetite
  • weight loss
  • weakness
  • fatigue
  • nosebleeds
  • itchy skin
  • yellow skin and eyes
  • web like clusters of blood vessels under the skin
  • abdominal pain
  • abdominal swelling
  • breast enlargement in men
  • confusion.

Risk Factors Of Fatty Liver

Fatty liver begins to develop when the body produces too much fat or does not metabolize fat efficiently. This excess fat is stored up in the liver cells, where it seen accumulating and causing fatty liver diseases. This building up of fat is due to-
  • obesity
  • high blood sugar
  • insulin resistance
  • high levels of fat
  • pregnancy
  • rapid weight loss
  • some types of infections such as Hepatitis C
  • Side effects of Trexall, Nolvadex, Pacerone and Depakote.
  • Exposure to certain tonics
  • high cholesterol levels
  • have metabolic syndrome

Types Of Fatty Liver

There are two types of Fatty Liver-

Nonalcoholic and alcoholic.


Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases (NAFLD)

NAFLD occurs when the fat build up in the liver of people who do not consume alcohol. However, if the there is a build up of extra fat in the liver along with inflammation then it is known as Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis(NASH), a type of NAFLD. If it is left without treatment it can lead to scarring of the liver, cirrhosis or liver failure. Another type of NAFLD is Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy(AFLP), which is a very rare yet serious complication. If it is developed on the third trimester then the doctor urges for immediate delivery of the baby in order to avoid health risks in future. 





Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases(ALFD)

Too much of consumption of alcohol can lead to Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (ALFD). Once the liver is damaged it cannot further breakdown the fat properly. If it is accompanied by inflammation in the liver then it is known as Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (ASH). If not treted properly it can lead to liver failure.

Stages of Fatty Liver

Fatty liver is seen progressing through 4 stages-

  • Simple fatty liver- A build up of excess fat is seen in the liver.
  • Steatohepatitis- In addition to fat, inflammation is building up in the liver.
  • Fibrosis- It has further caused scarring.
  • Cirrhosis- Scarring has now become widespread. 







Diagnosis of Fatty Liver-

The doctor undergoes a physical exam by checking the liver inflammation. If the liver is enlarged, the doctor can easily feel it. Blood tests like ALT, AST are done to check on liver enzymes. The doctor might also call for ultrasound exam, CT scan or MRI scan along with Fibro scan to check fr scarring. Also, a liver biopsy is the best way to understand the severity of the liver disease. In this test the doctor puts in a needle in the liver and removes a piece of tissue for further examination. A local anesthetic is given to reduce the pain. It helps in determining the fatty liver disease and liver scarring.

Treatment

At present there is still no specific medicines for the treatment of this disease. However changes in lifestyle, medications, having a balanced diet, steps to lose weight are  all preventive measures. One should focus on foods including fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. Limiting the consumption of carbohydrates like sweets, white rice, white bread, saturated fats like red meat, other animal products, trans fats and alcohol should be made. Medications like -

  • Orlistat
  • Avandia
  • Betaine, are recommended for this treatment.

These medicines can be ordered online from 3Meds, the best online medical app in India.






Outlook

In most of the cases fatty liver is curable through lifestyle changes. It can prevent from inflammation, scarring as well as cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer. Preventive measures like quitting alcohol, to avoid sugar levels, have a routine exercise of 30 minutes and rich balanced diet is what is necessary.

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