Fatty liver disease, though most commonly heard nowadays, is a steatotic liver disease in which excess fat accumulates in the cells of the liver, usually exceeding more than 5% of the weight of the liver. The condition is driven primarily by obesity, high intake of alcohol and diabetes, which can further lead to chronic inflammation, scarring, which is also called cirrhosis and even liver failure. Fatty liver is often asymptomatic in its initial stages. It can be managed well via diet, lifestyle changes and exercise as well.
Types of fatty liver
Fatty liver is chiefly of two types
- MASLD – Metabolically associated steatotic liver disease, which was formerly known as NAFLD, is related to risk factors of metabolism, such as high cholesterol, obesity and type 2 diabetes, instead of just alcohol.
- Alcohol-associated fatty liver disease – AFLD — This type of fatty liver is caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, which is responsible for disrupting the metabolism of the liver, thereby causing the buildup of fat.
Key symptoms of fatty liver
- Fatigue and weakness – The most common symptom is unexplained tiredness, which remains persistent.
- Unexplained changes in the weight – If you are rapidly gaining or losing weight.
- Abdominal Pain – In case you feel a dull ache or even discomfort in the upper right quadrant of your belly.
- Advanced Symptoms – Cirrhosis — If fatty liver progresses and causes severe damage, the symptoms can then include abdominal swelling, which is also called ascites, yellowing of your skin or eyes, which is also known as jaundice, confusion and easy bruising as well.
Several causes and risk factors
- Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease – AFLD – Fatty liver, if caused by excessive intake of alcohol, is called alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Non- Alcoholic Fatty Liver – NAFLD or MASLD – This one is connected to type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which is a metabolic syndrome.
- Other causes: Certain medications and a poor diet with high refined sugars can also cause fatty liver. Moreover, rapid weight loss could lead to fatty liver as well.
Diagnosis of fatty liver
Diagnosis includes:
- Blood tests, such as elevated ALT or AST enzymes.
- Imaging tests such as CT scan, ultrasound or FibroScan.
- Liver biopsy in very severe cases.
Treatment as well as Reversal options
- Loss of weight: Losing about 10% of your body weight can prove to be the most effective way to reduce your liver fat as well as inflammation.
- Changes in diet: You could adopt a Mediterranean-style diet, which is rich in fruits, whole grains, vegetables and healthy fats while limiting your sugar as well as refined carbohydrates.
- Elimination of Alcohol: In case of alcoholic fatty liver, complete avoidance and elimination of alcohol is absolutely necessary and crucial.
- Physical Activity: You must aim for approximately 150 minutes of aerobic exercise of moderate intensity every week.
- Management of the condition: Tight control of high cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes is necessary for the management of this condition.
- Medications: There is no specific medicine which is approved to cure fatty liver, but doctors may still prescribe Vitamin E or even diabetes medicines such as pioglitazone in order to help reduce the inflammation and liver fat as well.
Conclusion
For the purpose of getting rid of fat present in the liver, you should visit the best gastro doctor in India. You will be guided about which treatment will be suitable for you, as per your condition. The best liver doctor in Ludhiana can make a diagnosis through various blood tests or imaging tests and suggest the relevant treatment. It is crucial that you manage the condition before it gets out of hand or becomes severe.
