Fatty liver disease – Warning signs and management

As the name suggests, fatty liver is a health condition caused by excess fat deposition on the liver. In most cases, people show no symptoms of the condition or face any health issues. However, it can get severe once the disease progresses, necessitating an intervention. But since the liver is an organ with self-healing abilities, changing our lifestyle habits and food choices can play a huge role in recovering from such conditions.
Fatty liver diseases
In a healthy liver, the amount of fat surrounding it is estimated to be 5 to 10% of the liver’s weight. This fat protects the liver against injuries and shock. However, when extra fat accumulates in the liver, it might impact its normal functioning, but it is observed in only a few fatty liver patients. The progression of the condition occurs in four stages:
Simple fatty liver
In this stage, there is a build-up of fat storage in the liver. If the condition does not progress, the initial stages of fatty liver disease are not harmful.
Steatohepatitis
The added fat storage is also accompanied by liver inflammation at this stage. This condition is a bit more severe than the simple fatty liver.
Fibrosis
With further progression of the disease, the continued inflammation of the liver eventually leads to scarring. However, even at this stage, most patients do not experience any variation in liver functioning.
Cirrhosis
With persistent inflammation and scarring, liver functioning is eventually impacted. It is because the scar tissue starts replacing healthy liver tissues and obstructs its function. Cirrhosis occurs when there is long-term damage to the liver. The scar tissue is hard and unyielding, slowing the liver down and eventually stopping its functioning. Cirrhosis can further develop into liver failure or liver cancer.
Causes
In most cases, fatty liver disease occurs due to poor eating and living habits. Lifestyle choices are one of the leading causes behind the increasing occurrence of this condition. However, there are also other factors that put people at an increased risk of getting this condition.
- Menstrual stage – Menopause is often associated with increased susceptibility to this condition.
- Body mass – Increased body mass is one of the most common reasons for fatty liver development.
- High cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes are some health conditions that may lead to fatty liver.
- Sleep disorder – Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where the airway gets blocked, leading to sudden starts and stops in a person’s breathing patterns. It may cause loud and persistent snoring and, in some cases, also leads to fatty liver disease.
Other risk factors
However, some people may not have any underlying health conditions but may still be diagnosed with fatty liver disease. These risk factors may be developed at an advanced stage and put one at a higher risk of developing the condition. They include insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, excessive body mass, or metabolic conditions like excessive cholesterol and high triglyceride levels. Certain prescription treatments might also put one at a higher risk of developing this condition.
Warning signs and symptoms
People are often diagnosed after fatty liver disease has reached the stage of cirrhosis. It is because the condition is usually present without any observable symptoms. For some patients, there may be some noticeable symptoms present. These include
- Abdominal discomfort or a feeling of fullness in the upper right portion of the stomach.
- Abdominal symptoms like loss of body mass, lack of appetite, and nausea
- Since the condition affects the patient’s liver, some show symptoms associated with jaundice, such as yellowness of the whites of the eyes and the skin.
- Extreme fatigue, a feeling of weakness, and confusion
- Patients will experience swelling in the abdomen and legs (edema). At times, it might be due to water retention in these regions or triggered by a fluid build-up.
Diagnosis
Fatty liver disease is diagnosed by a trained healthcare professional since the disease does not show any symptoms in most cases. Elevated liver enzymes reported in blood tests indicate a liver disorder. For the confirmation of diagnosis, a doctor may ask some or all of the diagnostic tests given below.
Imaging tests
Computerized tomography (CT) scans or ultrasound tests may be suggested to get a clear picture of the liver and determine its size.
Biopsy
A liver biopsy may be conducted by taking some liver tissue samples. This testing helps the doctor determine the progress of the disorder.
FibroScan®
This specialized ultrasound test finds the amount of fat and scar tissue in the liver. It allows patients to forego the option of undergoing a biopsy if they are wary of invasive procedures.
Treatment
There is no definitive treatment or remedy that can cure fatty liver disease. Instead, once the disease is diagnosed, doctors are more concerned about managing contributing factors of the condition. If the diagnosis is made during the early stages, it might be possible to reverse the condition with nutritional and lifestyle changes because of the liver’s ability to regenerate. Once patients make healthy choices, the fat deposits on the liver decrease in quantity, and the liver starts to work on reducing inflammation. Changes like these also work in favor of restoring normal liver functioning. These changes are known to substantially improve the patient’s health and the outcome of fatty liver conditions. Patients are usually advised to make healthier food choices, work towards a healthier body mass, treat high cholesterol, triglycerides, and high blood pressure, and take vitamin E supplements to help with diabetes.
Preventive measures
Making alterations to lifestyle choices can significantly contribute to the prevention of fatty liver. These include regular exercise, avoiding or limiting unhealthy food and beverages, maintaining a healthy body mass, and avoiding added sugar from their daily meal plan.