Fatty liver is the first stage in which excess fat in the body begins to accumulate in the liver.
Liver disorder is a dangerous and irreversible condition that affects more than 3 lakh people in India. It has a disease burden of 18% globally. There are different types of liver diseases that can affect a person, such as fatty liver, bile duct disease, hepatitis, and jaundice.
What is a fatty liver?
Fatty liver is the first stage of a liver disorder in which excess fats in the body begin to accumulate in the liver. This fat is usually harmless at first and does not greatly affect liver function. It is mostly asymptomatic, and not many people can diagnose it promptly. This leads to the development of an even worse condition called cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver.
Causes:
Fatty liver can occur for many reasons, including:
- Alcohol Intake: Alcohol consumption is the main reason behind the development of alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Obesity: Excess body fat throughout the body increases the likelihood of fat accumulation in the liver. If the liver is unable to process and break down fat stores efficiently for long periods of time, it ends up causing impaired liver function. Unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle are factors that lead to the increase in obesity.
- Metabolic alterations: A set of physiological errors such as the presence of cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes can increase the chances of suffering from fatty liver if not treated on time. This also increases the risk of end-stage liver disease.
- Rapid Weight Loss: Rapid weight loss from the body can put oxidative stress on the liver and increase the risk of fatty liver disease.
- Genetics: Certain genetic factors can also cause fatty liver disease, as they affect the way the body stores and metabolizes fat.
End-stage fatty liver disease can lead to critical liver damage and can also cause liver failure and death. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing fatty liver disease from getting worse. Although fatty liver disease does not show specific symptoms, there are some symptoms that point towards the disease such as constant abdominal pain, nausea, jaundice, and chronic fatigue. These symptoms must be identified and diagnosed by a doctor as soon as possible.
(Inputs: Dr. Manish Kak, Consultant – Gastroenterology, Manipal Hospitals, Ghaziabad)
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