Fatty Liver (NAFLD) - A Silent Disease?
Fatty liver disease: Risk factors, symptoms, types and prevention.
Fatty liver (NAFLD) is a common disease caused by the storage of excess fat in the liver. In some cases, however, it can lead to liver damage. It's a growing condition: an estimated one-third of American adults have it And, as many as 1 in 5 cases progress to a more aggressive form of liver inflammation, called (NASH), which can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer and ultimately lead to death. A recent meta-analysis showed over 8.5 million individuals from 22 countries showed that over 80% of NAFLD patients were obese or overweight, 72% dyslipidemia, and 44% type 2 diabetes. The good news is that you can often even reverse fatty liver disease with minor lifestyle changes.
What is liver function?
Your liver is a fundamental second, enormous organ with a few life-supporting capacities.
Produces bile for digestion, makes proteins for the body, stores iron, creates substances to help with thickening blood (stay together to heal wounds), and helps fight disease by creating resistant factors and eliminating toxins.
Why is fatty liver disease bad?
In most cases, fatty liver does not cause serious problems or prevent your liver from functioning normally. But in 7 to 30 percent of people with the disease, fatty liver disease gets worse over time. It proceeds through three stages:
1. Your liver becomes inflamed (swollen), damaging its tissue. This stage is called Fatty Liver.
2. The scarred tissue begins supplanting the solid liver tissue. The condition is called fibrosis.
3. Extensive scar tissue replaces healthy tissue. At this point, you have cirrhosis of the liver.
What are the symptoms of fatty liver disease?
Patients with fatty liver often have no symptoms until the disease progresses to cirrhosis of the liver, which is why it's called a "silent" disease. If you have symptoms, they may include:
1. Abdominal pain or swollen abdomen and legs (swelling).
2. Spider veins (Cluster of blood vessels)
3. Extreme tiredness.
Risk Factors:
Who gets fatty liver disease?
1. you are a postmenopausal woman (a woman whose period has stopped).
2. Are Hispanic, followed by non-Hispanic whites. It is less common in African Americans.
3. Take certain drugs, such as corticosteroids and some cancer drugs
4. Have certain metabolic disorders, including metabolic syndrome
5. Have certain infections, such as hepatitis C
6. Have been exposed to some toxins
Diagnosis and tests
How is fatty liver disease diagnosed?
Fatty liver disease often has no symptoms, your doctor may be the first to notice it. Higher liver enzyme levels (elevated liver enzymes) show in a blood test for other diseases may raise a red flag. Elevated liver enzymes are a sign that your liver is damaged. To make a diagnosis, your doctor may prescribe:
1. LFT - Liver Function Test. Basically, it is a blood test to check your liver enzymes.
2. Ultrasound or computed tomography (CT scan) to get an image of the liver.
3. Liver biopsy (tissue sample) to determine how advanced the liver disease has progressed.
4. Fibroscan, a specialized ultrasound that is sometimes used instead of a liver biopsy to determine the amount of fatty and scar tissue in the liver.
Does fatty liver disease kill you?
Fatty liver does not cause major problems for most people. However, it can become a more serious problem if it progresses to cirrhosis of the liver. Untreated cirrhosis of the liver eventually leads to liver failure or liver cancer. Your liver is an organ you cannot live without.
Can Fatty Liver Disease Be Cured?
The liver has an amazing ability to repair itself. If you avoid alcohol or lose weight, it is possible to reduce liver fat and inflammation and reverse early liver damage.
How fatty liver disease can be treated?
There is no specific medicine for fatty liver disease. Instead, doctors focus on helping you control the factors that contribute to your illness. They also recommend lifestyle changes that can significantly improve your health.
What is a good fatty liver diet?
Follow a balanced diet to lose weight slowly but steadily. Rapid weight loss can actually worsen fatty liver disease. Doctors often recommend a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fruits and good fats and omega-3 foods. Ask your doctor or nutritionist for advice on healthy weight loss techniques.
Treat and prevent fatty liver with fruits and vegetables
The high antioxidant content of citrus fruits helps to cleanse the liver. Also, try drinking warm lemon water on an empty stomach - this will boost your immune system and helps to cut excess fat from your body.
There are many fruits and vegetables that have a positive effect on liver function that you should add to your diet:
1. Green apples
2. Plum
3. Lemon Juice
4. Grapefruit
5. Avocado (Omega-3)
6. Papaya
7. Orange
8. Gooseberry
9. Broccoli
10. Spinach
11. Almonds (Omega-3)
12. Wall nuts (Omega-3)
13. Fish (Omega-3)
14. Fiber rich foods
Antioxidants that promote liver health:
1. Coffee
2. Raw garlic
3. Green Tea
4. Green vegetables
5. Vitamin - E that can be easily find in: Olive Oil
Avoid eating Foods with fatty liver:
1. Red meat
2. Pasta
3. Rissole
4. Water balls
5. Fritters
6. Sugar candy
7. Added salt
8. Double fried foods
9. Sodas
10. Maggi, Noodles, Macaroni
What questions should I ask my doctor?
· Am I taking any medications that can promote fatty liver disease?
· How much damage is there to my liver?
· How long does it take to repair liver damage?
· What is a healthy weight for me?
· Can I talk to a nutritionist or go to class to learn about healthy eating?
· How do I get treatment for my alcohol problem?
Consider fatty liver disease as an early warning to help you avoid a fatal liver disease such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. Even if you do not have symptoms or liver problems at this stage, it is still important to take steps to stop or reverse the fatty liver disease.
Last Words:
Specialists concluded that the key causes for NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease) are sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating diet followed by people. They are profoundly suggesting to embrace a sound way of life. Careful nature towards NAFLD can place your life at risk. So make a one step ahead to prevent your liver from this chorionic disease.
Health is wealth.
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