The Essential Overview Of Fatty Liver Disease

Having some fat in the liver is normal, but if five to ten percent of the organ's weight is fat, it may be due to fatty liver disease. One of the critical causes of the condition is drinking alcohol, so it is suggested any patient diagnosed with fatty liver disease should cease drinking alcohol immediately. On rare occasions, the fatty liver disease can also be diagnosed during pregnancy and can be risky for both the mother and baby, possibly leading to liver or kidney failure in either of them (or both). There are two different types of fatty liver disease; alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Signs And Symptoms Of Fatty Liver Disease

The fatty liver disease often does not show any signs or symptoms in the beginning. In fact, it may take years, even decades before symptoms are apparent. Some symptoms include nausea, loss of weight or appetite, weakness, fatigue, and confusion, poor judgment, or difficulty paying attention. Some other signs and symptoms include a larger liver, pain in the center or upper-right part of the stomach, and darker patches of skin on the neck or under the arms. Symptoms may worsen after drinking heavily. There is a possibility fatty liver disease leads to scarring of the liver, known formally as cirrhosis. If cirrhosis occurs, symptoms such as a buildup of fluid, internal bleeding, jaundice, and liver failure may occur.

Causes And Risk Factors Of Fatty Liver Disease

There is still not enough information to determine why some patients accumulate fat in their livers while others do not. There is also little understanding as to why some cases of the fatty liver disease lead to inflammation and cirrhosis. However, some common causes may better our understanding as to who is at risk of developing the fatty liver disease.

The causes of fatty liver disease include obesity or being overweight, insulin resistance, high blood sugar, and high levels of fats in the blood. The risk factors that increase the risk of developing NAFLD include high cholesterol, high levels of triglycerides in the blood, metabolic syndrome, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, and hypopituitarism.