How to recognize a sick liver at home? Take this test…
The presence of fat in the liver is normal. But if fat makes up more than 5%–10% of liver weight, it’s possible you have alcoholic or non-alcoholic liver disease. In some cases, these diseases can lead to serious complications. Fatty liver may be due to consuming moderate or large amounts of alcohol. It can be the result of even a short period of drinking (acute alcoholic liver disease). You get a fatty liver, and you are not even aware of it, because the fatty liver does not show itself in significant symptoms for a long time. The more fat you have on the liver, the greater the inflammation. After fatty liver you will get fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver, the last stage is liver cancer.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER?
The main cause of alcoholic fatty liver is excessive alcohol consumption. This means that you consume more alcohol than your liver can break down. The time it takes for liver damage varies from person to person and depends on a variety of factors, including:
- The amount of alcohol you consume: The more alcohol you drink, the higher the risk of liver damage.
- The length of time you consume alcohol: The longer you drink alcohol, the greater the risk of liver damage.
- Your gender: Women are more susceptible to liver damage from alcohol than men.
- Your genetics: Some people are genetically predisposed to liver damage from alcohol.
- Your diet: Lack of protein and other nutrients in the diet can worsen liver damage.
- Obesity: Obesity is an additional risk factor for liver damage from alcohol.
In addition to excessive alcohol consumption, other factors that can contribute to alcoholic fatty liver include:
- Hepatitis B and C
- Some types of drugs
- Hemochromatosis (a disease in which too much iron accumulates in the body)
- Wilson’s disease (a disease in which too much copper accumulates in the body)
Symptoms of alcoholic fatty liver
At an early stage, alcoholic fatty liver often does not cause any symptoms. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms may appear:
- Weariness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and egg whites)
- Changes in mental state
- Bleeding from the intestines
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER?
Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) is a disease in which excess fat accumulates in the liver. This can happen in people who do not consume alcohol in excessive quantities.
There are several factors that can contribute to NAFLD, including:
1. Obesity: Obesity is the most common cause of NAFLD. Excess adipose tissue in the body can lead to the accumulation of fat in the liver.
2. Insulin resistance: Insulin resistance is a condition in which cells in the body do not adequately respond to insulin, a hormone that helps in the uptake of glucose into cells. Insulin resistance can lead to the accumulation of fat in the liver.
3. Type 2 diabetes mellitus: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use it adequately. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is often associated with NAFLD.
4. Metabolic syndrome: Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, elevated triglyceride levels and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Metabolic syndrome is often associated with NAFLD.
5. Hypertension: Hypertension is high blood pressure. Hypertension can damage the liver and lead to NAFLD.
6. Elevated lipid levels: Elevated levels of triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol can lead to fat buildup in the liver.
7. Lack of physical activity: Lack of physical activity can lead to obesity, insulin resistance and NAFLD.
8. Heredity: Some people are genetically predisposed to NAFLD.
9. Cholesterol-lowering agents: Some statins, cholesterol-lowering agents, can lead to elevated levels of transaminases in the liver, which is a marker of liver damage.
10. Medications: Some medications, such as corticosteroids, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants, can lead to NAFLD.
11. Viral hepatitis: Hepatitis C and hepatitis B can lead to inflammation and liver damage, which can lead to NAFLD.
12. Hemochromatosis: Hemochromatosis is a disease in which too much iron accumulates in the body. Excess iron can damage the liver and lead to NAFLD.
13. Wilson’s disease: Wilson’s disease is a rare disease in which too much copper accumulates in the body. Excess copper can damage the liver and lead to NAFLD.
Symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver
At an early stage, NAFLD often does not cause any symptoms. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms may appear:
- Weariness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and egg whites)
- Changes in mental state
- Bleeding from the intestines
