NHS Choices: Liver Disease
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Fatty liver disease is a potentially life-threatening condition characterised by an accumulation of fat in the liver. It falls into two categories – alcoholic and non-alcoholic. As the name suggests, the former is driven by alcohol abuse, whereas the latter is linked to unhealthy lifestyle markers. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) does not usually present any symptoms.
However, if left untreated, NAFLD can lead to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
NASH is liver inflammation and damage caused by a buildup of fat in the liver.
According to Stanford Health care, most people who have NASH feel fine and don’t know that they have it.
As NASH progresses and liver damage gets worse, it can cause a spate of disquieting symptoms.
According to Stanford Health care, these include:
- Fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
- Weight loss for no clear reason
- General weakness
- An ache in the upper right part of your belly.
“It may take many years for NASH to become severe enough to cause symptoms,” adds the health body.
How is NAFLD diagnosed?
The NHS explains: “NAFLD is often diagnosed after a blood test called a liver function test produces an abnormal result and other liver conditions, such as hepatitis, are ruled out.”
But blood tests do not always pick up NAFLD.
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“The condition may also be spotted during an ultrasound scan of your tummy,” explains the NHS.
This is a type of scan where sound waves are used to create an image of the inside of your body.
Can it be prevented?
It is unclear why some people accumulate fat in the liver while others do not.
Similarly, there is limited understanding of why some fatty livers develop inflammation that progresses to scarring in the liver.
However, as the Mayo Clinic explains, NAFLD and NASH are linked to a host of unhealthy lifestyle markers.
These include:
- Overweight or obesity
- Insulin resistance, in which your cells don’t take up sugar in response to the hormone insulin
- High blood sugar (hyperglycaemia), indicating prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
- High levels of fats, particularly triglycerides, in the blood.
“These combined health problems appear to promote the deposit of fat in the liver,” explains the Mayo Clinic.
“For some people, this excess fat acts as a toxin to liver cells, causing liver inflammation and NASH, which may lead to a buildup of scar tissue in the liver.”
Can NAFLD be treated?
There aren’t any specific treatments yet for NAFLD.
According to Bupa, your doctor will encourage you to make changes to your lifestyle to prevent your condition getting worse.
“There are various medicines that are useful in managing problems associated with NAFLD,” notes the health body.
It adds: “For example, your doctor may recommend medicines to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes if you have these conditions.”
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