Fatty Liver Disease Or Hepatic Steatosis

Kinds Of Fatty Liver Disease Or Hepatic Steatosis

Obese people have a greater risk of developing hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, than the slim people.

And most obese people know that they are at greater risk of developing these diseases.

And more obese people have fatty liver disease than heart disease, but most are totally unaware that they may have fatty liver disease and that is as dangerous a disease as hypertension or diabetes!

And few obese people know that they have this disease!

Most often fatty liver disease is diagnosed accidentally when an abdominal sonography is done for some other reason.

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Fatty liver disease is also known as hepatic steatosis or fatty degeneration of liver.

It affects both alcoholics and nonalcoholics or those who drink very little.

Thus fatty liver disease is of two types, alcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD.

Both diseases are characterised by build up of excess fat in the liver cells.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD is affecting increasingly greater number of people all over the world, more so in the Western world.

Some people suffering from Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD develop nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH is a more aggressive form of fatty liver disease in which there is inflammation of the liver cells and it can progress to scarring of the liver tissue leading to liver cirrhosis and liver failure.

Thus the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH could be similar to the severe alcoholic hepatitis seen amongst heavy alcoholics.

More than 90 per cent of heavy alcoholics develop fatty liver disease while 25 per cent develop the severe alcoholic hepatitis ending in liver cirrhosis and liver failure.

While children too suffer from non alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD, older people, especially males, are affected much more often.

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Causes:

Experts do not yet know why some people develop non alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD and why some of them progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH and develop liver cirrhosis and liver failure.

But both are linked to

Over weight or obesity, especially abdominal obesity

Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance

Hyperglycaemia or high blood sugar levels, pre diabetes or diabetes

Hypertriglyceridemia or high levels triglycerides or circulating fats in blood

These conditions could be helping build up of excess fat in the liver, causing NAFLD and in some this fat could be acting as a toxin to the liver cells and causing inflammation and scarring in them, causing NASH.

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Signs and symptoms:

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFDL may have no symptoms but some times there can be fatigue and pain or discomfort in upper right hand area of the abdomen where the liver lies within the body.

Signs and symptoms of people with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH are the same as those of advance scarring and cirrhosis of liver seen in cirrhosis in severe alcoholic hepatitis:

Swelling of abdomen due to ascites or accumulation of fluid in abdominal cavity.

Enlarged blood vessels under the skin.

Yellowing of skin and eyes due to jaundice.

Red palms.

Enlarged spleen.

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Other risk factors associated with development of NAFLD and NASH:

Alcohol

Hypercholesterolemia or high levels of cholesterol

Metabolic syndrome: Abdominal obesity, hypertension, high levels of blood sugar and triglycerides and low levels of HDL cholesterol

PCOD

Type II diabetes

Sleep apnea

Under active thyroid gland

Under active pituitary gland

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Complications or progression

The fatty liver disease can end up in development of inflammation and scarring resulting in liver cirrhosis.

Ascites or abdominal swelling due to fluid build up.

Swelling of veins in oesophagus or oesophageal varices, which can rupture causing bleeding

Liver cancer

Confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, delirium due to hepatic encephalitis

Complete liver failure meaning liver stops functioning altogether

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Treatment and prevention:

Eating healthy, well balanced food

Exercising regularly

Losing and maintaining weight at a healthy level.

Also read the articles ‘Basics Of Nutrition’, ‘Designing A Healthy Weight Loss Food Plan’, and ‘Simple Steps To Slimming’ on this website.