A very common liver disease that causes the liver to accumulate fat is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Often referred to as “silent” liver disease, it is similar to alcoholic liver disease but affects individuals who either never drink alcohol or drink it infrequently. It’s a non-serious condition called fatty liver, and it’s the most common form of NAFLD. Since the liver naturally contains fat, a small amount of fat accumulation in the liver does not result in any problems. The majority of people with NAFLD do not exhibit any symptoms, and many are even unaware that they have liver disease. The severe form of NAFLD is known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which causes the liver to become inflamed and scarred as a result of excess fat deposition. Later, the condition progresses to liver cirrhosis, which is the liver’s reaction to the death or damage of some liver cells. Finally, there is permanent liver damage and the liver loses its ability to function. An individual’s body weight directly relates to their chance of developing NAFLD. Diabetic and high-cholesterol patients are also more likely to develop NAFLD. Nearly 5% of children and 20% of adults are estimated to have NAFLD, which is a very common condition.
Causes
When the liver cannot break down fats, fat builds up and causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Till date, this has no known cause. Despite the high prevalence of NAFLD and NASH in Americans, the underlying cause is still unknown. It has been noted that individuals who are obese have higher rates of NASH and NAFLD. High blood glucose and elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels are observed in many NASH and NAFLD patients. This does not imply that everyone with NAFLD should be obese or diabetic, nor does it imply that everyone who is obese and has diabetes will also have NASH or NAFLD. The following are the likely causes of NAFLD:
- Insulin resistance, which raises blood glucose levels because the body does not react to the insulin hormone
- Fat cells release cytokines, which are toxic inflammatory proteins
- Oxidative stress within the liver is an imbalance between pro- and anti-oxidants that leads to the deterioration of the liver cell
- In some its hereditary
- Death of liver cells
- A multitude of medications prescribed for alternative medical conditions lead to fatty liver
- Very rarely pregnancy results in acute fatty liver disease (AFLD)
Symptoms
Until the amount of fat deposition is high enough to cause liver damage, many NAFLD patients do not exhibit any symptoms. Some people may complain of tiredness or fatigue. There may be pain on the right side due to liver enlargement. One could see yellowing of eye and skin (jaundice) too. The lower abdomen may be swollen due to accumulation of fluids. In certain patients, weight loss may be observed. The patient may vomit blood, or pass blood in stool, causing it to become dark black or tarry. In addition, the person may tend to bruise easily. A person with liver cirrhosis may experience intestinal bleeding, fluid retention, muscle wasting (a reduction in the size of skeletal muscle), and ultimately liver failure.
Diagnosis
To diagnose NAFLD, a few procedures and tests might be carried out. To check the presence of liver enzymes in blood and to perform a liver function test, a blood sample is obtained. In addition, blood tests for triglycerides, cholesterol, and glucose are performed. The liver’s structure and function are examined using imaging tests such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound. While NAFLD can be diagnosed with these imaging tests, the disease’s severity cannot be determined by them. For the diagnosis to be confirmed, a liver biopsy might be necessary. A tiny sample of liver tissue is taken, and it is examined for indications of inflammation and scarring. Only when significant liver damage is suspected, is this test conducted.
Treatment
Patients with NAFLD do not currently have a specific treatment available. However, if a patient is obese, doctors may advise them to lose weight, eat a healthy, balanced diet, abstain from alcohol, and not take needless medications. While rapid weight loss typically makes the condition worse, gradual weight loss improves liver tests and partially reverses the disease. Patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis syndrome (NASH) frequently have comorbid conditions such as diabetes and hypercholesterolemia; consequently, most prescriptions address these underlying illnesses. Should medications be the root cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the doctor may substitute or alter the medication. A liver transplant may be necessary if the patient has severe liver cirrhosis or liver failure.
Prevention
Although NAFLD cannot be prevented completely, it is possible to reduce the risk by exercising regularly, eating healthy diet, and keeping weight under control. Maintaining blood glucose level and blood cholesterol level close to normal is very important in keeping NAFLD under control. A further crucial step is to abstain from needless drug use, which may also contribute to liver fat deposition. If non-serious NAFLD is identified, abstaining from alcohol will stop more serious problems from developing.
Outlook
Being diagnosed with NAFLD may require taking extra care, as in its earlier stage, the disease does not show any signs and symptoms that bothers the patient. Having regular blood check-ups is very important to make sure that the condition is not developing into much serious complication. The only best way to cope up with NAFLD is to look after one-self and continuously monitor one’s health.
