Fatty Liver Disease: Information on symptoms, causes and treatment

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Fatty Liver Disease
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What is Fatty Liver Disease?

• Fatty liver disease refers to fat accumulation in
  the liver. While a liver with little or no fat is
  considered healthy, one with excess fat
  accumulation is called fatty liver.
• If the fat deposits in the liver accounts for
  more than five to ten percent of the organ's
  weight, then it is diagnosed as fatty liver
  disease.
• In most cases, a simple fatty liver may not cause
  any symptom and may not even lead to
  complications. However, with the fat deposits,
  the liver becomes prone to further health
  problems, in some people.
• With excess fat deposits, the liver may develop
  complications like, cirrhosis, liver failure and
  even liver cancer. The common and mild stage of
  this disease is called simple fatty liver or
  hepatic steatosis and the more serious and
  worsened one is known as steatohepatitis, which
  is less common.

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Types of Fatty Liver

• Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver 
• On the basis of its causes, the disease is
  classified into two main categories - alcoholic
  and non-alcoholic. While alcoholism is the cause
  for alcoholic fatty liver, non alcoholic variant
  can be caused by various other factors.
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition
  that describes fatty liver in people who consume
  little or no alcohol.
• One of the common causes for developing fatty
  liver is alcoholism. In small amounts, alcohol
  intake may not cause any liver problems, but
  excess alcohol can slow down the liver and result
  in conditions like fatty liver. Studies show that
  genetics too has a role to play in development of
  fatty liver.
• This may happen in two ways. The likelihood of a
  person developing alcoholism may be determined by
  the genes. The rate of alcohol metabolism may
  vary in people, as per certain genetic factors.
  Alcoholism combined with factors like fatty
  diet, obesity and other liver problems can
  increase the probability of developing the
  condition. 

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Causes of Fatty Liver Disease

• Alcoholism is a major cause of fatty liver
  disease.
• Another common cause is obesity. A high fat diet,
  sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise, are
  also among the contributory factors.
• Diabetes, high blood pressure, insulin
  resistance, hyperlipidemia (high levels of fat in
  blood) and rapid weight loss may also lead to
  this liver condition.
• In some people, gastric bypass surgery is found
  to cause fatty liver disease.
• Malnutrition and starvation for long periods may
  be among the contributory factors for this liver
  disease.
• Long-term use of certain types of medication
  (like tetracycline and corticosteroids) may also
  cause this condition.
• Immunosuppressive medication for rheumatoid
  arthritis and anti-retroviral therapy may lead to
  fatty liver.

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Continue- Causes of Fatty Liver

• Medical conditions like PCOS, hypothyroidism and
  high cholesterol levels are also among the
  possible fatty liver disease causes.
• Those with HIV, hepatitis C and inflammatory
  bowel disease have increased chances of
  developing fatty liver.
• Acute fatty liver may develop during pregnancy
  and this is a serious condition that may affect
  both the mother as well as the foetus.

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Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease

• In both types, fatty liver disease can vary in
  severity. It could be a simple fatty liver, which
  is not a severe and/or life-threatening condition
  that may not even cause symptoms (some people may
  develop occasional abdominal discomfort). The
  condition may worsen to inflammation of the
  liver, which is called steatohepatitis (alcoholic
  steatohepatitis and non-alcoholic
  steatohepatitis).
• This condition may sometimes cause symptoms like
  fatigue, right abdominal discomfort (may also
  have dull pain), yellowing of the eyes and skin
  and fever. Steatohepatitis may gradually cause
  scar tissues or fibrosis to form in the liver.
  This may sometimes cause symptoms like
  nausea, discoloration of the skin in patches
  (especially neck and underarm), easy bruising and
  bleeding and liver enlargement, apart from the
  occasional right abdominal pain and fatigue. 

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Continue- Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease

• Fibrosis can later on worsen to cirrhosis, which
  can result in liver failure or even liver cancer.
  As per studies, it takes around 8 to 15 years for
  a person with steatohepatitis to develop
  cirrhosis, which is a serious condition that can
  produce many different symptoms like, jaundice,
  fluid retention, swelling in legs, gynecomastia an
  d bleeding of oesophageal veins.
• As simple fatty liver disease symptoms may go
  unnoticed, this liver condition is usually
  diagnosed accidentally through routine blood
  tests or medical check-ups. It can also be
  diagnosed through ultrasound, CT scan, blood
  tests, biopsy or MRI. 

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Treatment of Fatty Liver Disease

• Treatment mainly aims at remedying the underlying
  cause. In case of simple alcoholic fatty liver,
  alcohol consumption has to be stopped. For those
  with non alcoholic fatty liver disease, correct
  diagnosis is very much important.
• This is because of the myriad health problems
  than can cause the condition. For obese people,
  weight loss is suggested as a remedy. The
  condition can be reversed, if detected at an
  early stage.
• There is no specific treatment for severe fatty
  liver disease, but health experts recommend
  reduction in alcohol consumption and treatment of
  underlying causes. A change in diet and weight
  loss is considered most effective against this
  disease. 

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Continue- Treatment of Fatty Liver Disease

• With the increasing number of diabetic and obese
  people, the occurrence of fatty liver disease is
  also on the rise. Non alcoholic fatty liver
  disease can be prevented to some extent,
  by regular exercise and a balanced diet with less
  fats, sugars and carbohydrates.
• Those with underlying medical conditions must get
  them treated. Follow a healthy lifestyle and
  prevent fatty liver disease, which may worsen
  with time, if not taken care of, in the early
  stages.

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