Fatty Liver Disease: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

 Fatty Liver Disease Risk Factors

You are more likely to get fatty liver disease if you

• Have gotten through menopause
• Are diabetic
• Are obese
• Have high blood hypertension
• Have high cholesterol
• Struggle with sleep apnea

Fatty Liver Disease Complications

For the majority of cases, early-stage fatty liver disease is harmless, but if it worsens, it can result in severe liver damage, including cirrhosis. Also, high levels of fat in the liver are linked to an increased risk of significant health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and renal disease. Moreover, fatty liver disease raises your risk of getting cardiac problems if you already have diabetes.

It is possible to prevent fatty liver disease from getting worse and lower the amount of fat in your liver if it is identified and treated at an early stage.

 Fatty Liver Disease Diagnosis

Your doctor might be the first person to diagnose fatty liver disease because it frequently has no symptoms. Raising a red flag may be higher levels of liver enzymes found during a blood test. Your liver is harmed if your liver enzyme levels are elevated. Your doctor might prescribe the following to make a diagnosis:

• To obtain a picture of the liver, use computed tomography (CT scan) or ultrasound.
• To assess how far along the liver disease is, a liver biopsy (tissue sample) is performed.
• To determine the amount of fat and scar tissue in the liver, a specialized ultrasound called FibroScan® is occasionally used in place of a liver biopsy.

Fatty Liver Disease Treatment

Losing weight is advised by doctors for non-alcoholic fatty liver. Weight loss can lessen fibrosis, inflammation, and liver fat. You should stop taking a certain medication if your doctor suspects it is the root of your non-alcoholic related fatty liver. Nevertheless, before stopping the medication, see your doctor. You might need to gradually stop taking the medication and switch to a different medication in its place.

For the treatment of non-alcoholic related fatty liver, no medications have been licensed. Further research is required to determine whether Vitamin E or a specific diabetes medication can be helpful.

The most crucial step in treating fatty liver disease brought on by alcohol is quitting drinking. You might wish to visit a therapist or take part in an alcohol rehabilitation program if you need assistance with that. Medications can also be helpful because they can either lessen cravings or make you feel ill if you consume alcohol.

Fatty liver disease can progress to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis-related health issues can be managed by doctors using medications, surgeries, and other treatments. You might need a liver transplant if the cirrhosis causes liver failure.