What is Fatty Liver Disease? Preventive measures and Treatment

What is fatty liver?

Fatty liver disease is a common condition caused by the storage of extra fat in the liver.  

Fatty liver (Hepatic S t e a t o s I s) can be divided into two main categories:

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) 

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) 

NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD)

It can be subdivided into following types.  

Simple Fatty Liver:  This means fat deposition in liver, but the patient may not have any inflammation in liver or damage to liver cells. It usually does not get worse or cause problem with liver. Most people with NAFLD have simple fatty liver. 

Nonalcoholic S t e a t o h e p a t I t I s (NASH):         This is very serious than a simple fatty liver. NASH means you have inflammation in your liver. The inflammation and liver cell damage that happen with NASH can cause serious problems such as fibrosis and cirrhosis, which are types of liver scarring, and liver cancer. About twenty percent of people with NAFLD have NASH.   

Alcohol-Related Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD)

Alcoholic fatty liver disease can be prevented. It normally gets better when you stop drinking alcohol. If you keep drinking, AFLD can cause serious problems. The following can happen:

Enlarged liver:        It may not always show symptoms, but you may have pain or discomfort on the upper right side of your belly.

Alcoholic hepatitis: In this condition have the swelling in the liver that can cause temperature (fever), vomiting, belly pain, nausea and jaundice.  

Alcoholic cirrhosis: In this condition, scar tissue may buildup in your liver. Same symptoms may appear as appears in alcoholic hepatitis plus:

Large amounts of fluid buildup in your belly.  

High blood pressure in the liver.  

Bleeding in your body.  

Confusion and changes in behavior.  

Enlarged spleen.

Liver failure, which can be fatal.  

Who may have the fatty liver disease?

There is a great possibility of developing fatty liver disease if:   

You are overweight or obese or have belly fat  

Your body doesn’t respond to insulin as it should (called insulin resistance)  

You have type 2 diabetes  

You have high levels of triglycerides 

You have high levels of ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol   

You have low levels of ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol  

You have polycystic ovary syndrome  

You have sleep apnea  

You have an underactive thyroid   

You’re older  

You have an underactive pituitary gland   

You’re malnourished  

You’ve lost weight rapidly   

You’ve been exposed to certain toxins and chemicals  

High blood pressure  

High blood sugar  

Medical conditions that affect how your body uses or stores fat

Hepatitis C or other infections.  

Taking certain medicines such as glucocorticoids, methotrexate, synthetic estrogen, tamoxifen and others

Gallbladder removal: Some people who have surgery to remove their gallbladder are more likely to have NAFLD  

Problems with Fatty Liver Disease

The biggest problem in all of these cases is cirrhosis, or scars on your liver. As your liver tries to stop the inflammation that results from these conditions, it creates areas of scars. As the inflammation progresses, so do the scars, and finally, your liver is unable to do its job. That could lead to:

Flatulence in your stomach

swollen veins in your throat that can rupture and bleed

confusion and drowsiness

liver cancer

liver failure

How to prevent it?

With NAFLD and NASH, totally depending on making better decisions:   

Eat a healthy diet. Choose plant-based foods that are high in fruits, vegetables, grains, and healthy fats.

Maintain weight in healthy range. Lose weight if you need to. If your weight is healthy, work on maintaining a healthy diet and exercise.

Get exercise several days a week. Talk to your doctor first if you have not worked for a long time.

To prevent AFLD:   

Drink moderately: This is one drink per day for women and men over the age of 65, and older for men aged 65 and under.  

Protect yourself from hepatitis C: This virus infection can put you at risk of getting cirrhosis if you drink.   

How to TREAT FATTY LIVER DISEASE? 

There are no NAFLD prescriptions. Some medications are subject to clinical trials. Usually the first line of treatment is weight loss. It helps reduce fat, inflammation, and scars on your liver. Losing only 3% to 5% of your body weight can reduce the amount of fat in your liver. Weight loss surgery is also an option if you have a lot to lose.

You will also need to stop drinking. The only way you can keep liver damage from getting worse. You can even reverse some of the liver damage that has already occurred. Talk to your doctor about how you can get help. You may need a supervised detox program to stop drinking safely and to control withdrawal symptoms.  

If you have problems with NASH, such as cirrhosis or liver failure, you may need a liver transplant. In general, people with NASH transplants do very well.  

Self-Care for Fatty Liver Disease:

Lifestyle changes may help:

Exercise more. Try to work at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week. If you are trying to lose weight, you may find it helpful to exercise more. But if you do not exercise regularly, find your doctor first and then start slowly.  

Eat a nutrient-rich diet that’s low in excess calories, saturated fat, and trans fats.

Lower your cholesterol. Exercise and take your medication. This will get - and maintain - your cholesterol and triglyceride levels where needed.

Control your diabetes. Check your blood sugar, and take medication as prescribed by your doctor.

Be gentle to your liver. Do not do things that will make it harder. Skip alcohol. Only take over-the-counter medicines and drugs as directed. Talk to your doctor before trying any treatment. Just because a product is natural, that does not mean it is safe.

Diet for fatty liver disease:

If you have fatty liver disease, your doctor may recommend that you adjust your diet to help treat the condition and reduce the risk of complications.

For example, they might advise you to do the following:

Rate your food. Try to choose foods from all food groups. These include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, low-fat milk, and healthy fats and oils.

Cut calories. Limit your diet to high-calorie foods.

Focus on fiber. Fiber can help improve your liver function. Examples of fiber-rich foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, grains.

Limit certain foods. Take steps to reduce/avoid your intake of junk food and high in:

Sodium (salt)

Refined carbohydrates, such as sweets, white rice, white bread, or other refined grain products.

Saturated fats, found in foods such as red meat, skim milk, and fried foods

Trans-fats, which are present in fried foods and snacks

Avoid raw or undercooked shellfish. Raw or uncooked shell can contain germs that can make you very sick.

Drinking plenty of water can help keep you clean and improve your liver health.

Learn more about other dietary changes that can help you manage fatty liver disease.

Deal with alcohol. Talk to your doctor about whether you can drink alcohol. Depending on your liver condition, you may be able to consume alcohol in moderation. If you have AFLD, you will need to stop drinking altogether.

What is the PROGNOSIS?

In many cases, it is possible to reverse fatty liver disease by lifestyle changes, such as dieting, weight control and reducing alcohol intake. These changes can help prevent liver damage and scarring from occurring.

In AFLD in particular, it is important to avoid excess alcohol altogether. If you need help not to drink alcohol, consider joining a detoxification program and counseling.

Left untreated, fatty liver disease can spread to inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Injuries due to cirrhosis are irreversible. When you have cirrhosis, it increases the risk of liver cancer and liver failure. These problems can be life-threatening.

In general, the perception of fatty liver disease is best when treatment begins in the early stages, before fibrosis and cirrhosis.

To get the best result, it is important to follow your doctor's recommended treatment plan and get acquainted with your overall healthy lifestyle.