Fatty liver (fatty liver): symptoms, treatment, etc.

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Definition

What is that

Fatty liver (fatty liver) is the accumulation of excess fat and infection of the liver. Disease fatty liver actually not dangerous. However, inflammation (inflammation) that doesn't heal can lead to scarring (cirrhosis) and reduce liver function.

There are many things that can cause a fatty and swollen liver, from alcohol consumption to high cholesterol levels. Fatty liver can develop through three stages, namely:

• inflammation of the liver that damages the surrounding tissue (steatohepatitis),
• the presence of scar tissue in the damaged liver (fibrosis), as well
• lung tissue replaces healthy tissue (cirrhosis of the liver).

That is why, fatty liver needs to be handled immediately so as not to damage liver cells and other organs to endanger life.

How common is this condition?

Disease fatty liver is a common condition and can happen to anyone. However, fatty liver caused by alcohol consumption is more common in adolescents.

It is also the third highest trigger for liver disease in adults.

Type

Fatty liver divided into two types based on the causes which are described as follows.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (Non-alcoholic fatty liver) is fatty liver disease not related to alcohol consumption. NAFLD is divided into two types, namely:

• fatty liver simple, aka without any inflammation or damage to liver cells, as well
• nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), namely the liver becomes inflamed and can cause fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Experts have yet to find the cause of NAFLD. However, there are several factors that can increase your risk, such as obesity and diabetes.

Alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD)

Alcoholic fatty liver disease is fatty liver which occurs as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. This condition will usually improve when you stop drinking alcohol. If not treated immediately, this alcoholic fatty liver can lead to serious problems.

The liver can break down most of the compounds in the alcohol you drink to excrete it from the body. However, the process of breaking down alcohol can produce harmful substances that damage liver cells and increase inflammation.

This means that the more alcohol you drink, the more severe the liver damage will be. ALD is the early stage of alcohol-related liver disease.

This disease can also progress to alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver if left untreated.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms

Both NAFLD and ALD are quiet progressive diseases with no or few annoying symptoms. When it has developed, you will usually experience symptoms in the form of:

• abdominal pain on the right side of the stomach,
• stomach feels bloated,
• nausea and loss of appetite,
• weight loss,
• yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice),
• swollen stomach and legs (edema), as well
• the body feels weak and tired.

There may be features of fatty liver not mentioned above. If you have questions about symptoms fatty liver please consult a doctor.

When to see a doctor for this disease?

If you experience the symptoms that have been mentioned and have been going on for a long time, consult a doctor immediately.

This also applies when the weight drops suddenly because it can be a sign of liver damage.

Causes and risk factors

What causes

Fatty liver is generally caused by the body producing excessive amounts of fat. As a result, the accumulation of fat in the liver tissue occurs.

Fatty liver can occur due to several things, such as:

• consumption of foods with excessive calories,
• have obesity and diabetes,
• high cholesterol,
• alcohol abuse, as well
• malnutrition.

Meanwhile, fatty liver disease that is not related to alcohol is not certain what causes it. However, some of the conditions above can be the cause of NAFLD.

What factors increase the risk of developing this disease?

Cause fatty liver indeed it has more to do with alcohol abuse. However, there are several health conditions that can increase a person's risk of developing fatty liver, including:

• type 2 diabetes,
• obesity,
• high blood levels of fats, such as cholesterol and triglycerides,
• high blood pressure (hypertension),
• taking certain medications, such as corticosteroids and some drugs for cancer,
• metabolic disorders, such as metabolic syndrome,
• hypothyroidism,
• hypopituitarism,
• having an infectious disease such as hepatitis C, as well
• has been exposed to poison.

NAFLD has affected about 25% of the world's population. This is also influenced by the number of cases of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Meanwhile, ALD occurs in heavy alcohol drinkers, especially those who have been long. This disease is also at a higher risk in women who drink excessively and are obese.

Diagnosis and treatment

How to diagnose this disease?

Most fatty liver patients are asymptomatic, so they are often detected incidentally during periodic medical examinations.

For example, an elevated liver enzyme level on a blood test for another condition could be a sign of impaired liver function. If this happens, your doctor may ask you to undergo tests:

• CT scan to get a picture of the liver,
• liver biopsy to determine the severity of the disease,
• Ultrasound to determine the amount of fat and scar tissue in the liver,
• blood test to determine the triggers for fatty liver, and
• liver function tests and enzymes in the liver.

What are the treatment options

Treatment options fatty liver will usually depend on the type and cause. However, your doctor may recommend that you lead a healthy lifestyle while providing medication to treat the causes of fatty liver.

Usually, here are the recommended healthy lifestyles.

• Lose weight if you are obese or overweight.
• Reduce or stop drinking alcohol.
• Take medication to control diabetes, cholesterol, and triglycerides.
• Take vitamin E and thiazolidinediones in certain cases.
• Liver transplant in people who have liver failure.

Keep in mind that researchers are currently investigating whether there are drugs that can reduce inflammation of the fatty liver.

So far, there are two types of drugs that are considered to help reduce the amount of liver fat, namely vitamin E and pioglitazone (diabetes drug). Even so, not everyone can get the same benefits from treatment fatty liver this.

That is why, further research is needed to determine the benefits and side effects of each drug to prevent inflammation of fatty liver.

Home remedies

What home remedies can be used to treat fatty liver?

Some lifestyle changes or home remedies to help control the disease fatty liver are as follows.

• Maintain ideal body weight.
• Lose weight for people who are overweight.
• Get vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and pneumococcal disease.
• Exercise regularly.
• Perform routine checks to find out liver health.
• Control blood sugar levels.
• Ask the doctor about the types of drugs that are harmful to the liver.

If you have further questions, please consult with your doctor to find the right solution.