Fatty Liver Symptoms Treatment And Prevention: 6 Steps to Take

You might not be that chubby, just a little bit fatty in the stomach. What if I tell you that you might be carrying grade 2 fatty liver? Yes, this disease has spread like a silent epidemic. It’s prevalent in 23% to 32% of the world population. The major problem is that it doesn’t show any symptoms most of the time. Hence, most of the victims don’t even get a clue of what they’re carrying.

Living a healthier lifestyle often prevents or reverses fatty liver disease. So today I will discuss everything about fatty liver symptoms treatment and prevention. This will also include the 6 steps to take to win against this fatal disease.

What Is Fatty Liver?

Normally, every single one of us carries some fat in the liver. It isn’t a problem. The problem begins when the quantity is more than 5%. It’s because this hampers the normal functionality of the liver. And then it’s called fatty liver disease. You might also hear the term hepatic steatosis which means the same.

What Are The Functionalities of The Liver?

Do you know that your liver is actually the second largest organ of your body? Don’t get that surprised yet as there is more to come. The liver:

Assists in digestion by releasing bile.
Provides the body with proteins.
Works as a storage facility for iron.
Assists in the digestion of food and liquid nutrients.
Uses nutrients to produce energy.
Activates your blood clotting process. It’s crucial to heal wounds.
Makes immune factors and removes bacteria and toxins from the blood.
This helps you resist infections

Why Is It Something to Beware of?

Fatty liver is a disease that gets severe gradually. Thankfully, it doesn’t cause life-threatening issues in most patients. But that’s not the case for some of the people with this disease.

There are three stages through which it gets into a rhythm in these patients:

Stage 1: Inflammation

During inflammation (swelling), your liver's tissue is damaged. Steatohepatitis refers to this stage.

Stage 2: Formation of Scar Tissues

Your liver becomes scarred with scar tissues. It takes place when your liver is damaged.

Known as fibrosis, this process occurs over time.

Stage 3: Fatal Stage

As a result of extensive scarring, healthy tissue is replaced. There is cirrhosis in your liver at this point.

Cirrhosis in Liver

Long-term liver damage leads to cirrhosis (fibrosis) of the liver.
It is the worst stage of the scarring that took place before.
This makes it impossible for the liver to function properly.
Cirrhosis is sometimes referred to as end-stage liver disease.

Even when you have cirrhosis, your liver may still be able to function. There are serious complications associated with cirrhosis that can be life-threatening, yet. This includes liver failure and liver cancer. So, one should put focus on fatty liver disease prevention to avoid such scenarios.

Variations of Fatty Liver Disease

There are two major variations:

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

NAFLD is a variation of fatty liver disease that is unrelated to alcohol consumption. 80–100 million people approximately have NAFLD in the states. There are two types as well:

Simple Fatty Liver

It is also referred to as nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL).
In this case, your liver may have fat, but it may not be inflamed or damaged.
The condition is usually not serious or causes liver problems.
Simple fatty liver is the most common type of NAFLD.

Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

There is a lot more to this than the simple fatty liver. Inflammation of the liver is referred to as NASH. Fibrosis and cirrhosis are scarring conditions of the liver.

And liver cancer can be a serious problem caused by NASH inflammation.

NASH is causing havoc by becoming the fastest-growing cause of liver cancer.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Alcohol damages the liver if you drink a lot of it.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD or ALD) is a precursor to liver disease caused by alcohol.
An uninflamed or uncomplicated condition is referred to as simple alcoholic fatty liver.

Alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) is a variation of AFLD. Known also as alcoholic hepatitis, it occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver and leads to inflammation. If you have ASH, your doctor may diagnose you as follows:

Your liver is overloaded with fat
There is inflammation in your liver
Alcohol is a big part of your diet

It is possible for ASH to cause liver fibrosis if it is not treated correctly. When the liver is scarred severely (cirrhosis), it may fail.

There is another rare type of FLD:

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy (AFLP)

Excess fat accumulates in the liver during pregnancy, causing AFLP.

Pregnancy complications like this are rare, but they are serious. Genetics may be involved in the cause, but it is unknown exactly what causes it. It occurs in approximately 3% of pregnant women.

The symptoms of AFLP usually appear during the third trimester of pregnancy. Without treatment, the mother and baby are at serious risk. Whenever a doctor diagnoses AFLP, they will want you to deliver your baby fast. It is possible for you to need follow-up care for a few days after giving birth.

Within a few weeks of giving birth, the health of your liver should return to normal.

Who Are Prone to FLD?

ALD

The main cause is limitless alcohol consumption obviously. But you might be at greater risk by:

Being middle-aged or older.
Having a lot of belly fat and being obese.
Being malnourished.
Having a genetic predisposition to it.
Being infected with certain diseases, such as hepatitis C
Having a habit of smoking.

NAFLD

It is unknown why some people with NAFLD develop simple fatty liver and others develop NASH. Genes can play a role. According to the World Journal of Gastroenterology, certain genes increase the possibility by 27%. Other risk factors involve:

Having hypertension, diabetes (especially T2DM), or high cholesterol.
Being obese.
Having postmenopausal symptoms (your period has stopped).
Being exposed to some harmful substances.
Having metabolic disorders including metabolic syndrome
(insulin resistance and high triglyceride levels).
Being older.
Having polycystic ovary syndrome.
Carrying sleep apnea.
Being malnourished.
NAFLD is more likely to occur in patients who have had their gallbladder removed.

Rare causes involve:

Being infected with certain diseases, such as hepatitis C
Taking certain medications,
Consuming corticosteroids, amiodarone, diltiazem, tamoxifen or steroids
Some cancer drugs.
Losing weight fast.

What Are The Symptoms?

This disease is labelled as a silent disease for a reason. Both NAFLD and ALD don’t show any symptoms usually.

Some reportedly have fatigue or stomachache in the upper right side at the position of the liver.

But in the case of NASH or cirrhosis, there might be signs like:

A swollen abdomen and legs (oedema)
Skin-deep enlargement of blood vessels
An abnormally large breast in a man
Palms with red pigment
A condition called jaundice
Irritation on skin
Bleeding or bruises
An extreme state of exhaustion or confusion of mind

How Is It Diagnosed?

Most people do not experience symptoms of these conditions, so they are difficult to diagnose.
It may take your doctor a while to determine if you have fatty liver disease.

Diagnosing fatty liver disease may involve your doctor using the following methods:

Health History

The doctor will ask you if you consume alcohol.
If you give your doctor this information, he or she will be able to tell whether you have NAFLD or ALD.
Additionally, they'll ask about your medications, diet, and other health conditions.

Physical Tests

An enlarged liver or jaundice can be signs of liver problems that your doctor will weigh you and check your body for.

Blood Tests

The results can indicate if your liver is producing high levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). You may have a liver problem if this is the case.

Imaging Studies

There are several types of imaging tests you can get, including ultrasounds, computerized tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Tests like these can help determine whether your liver contains fat.

However, they cannot tell whether you have simple fatty liver disease or NASH.

They might also perform vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE, FibroScan). It measures liver stiffness by using low-frequency sound waves. In order to check scarring, it can be helpful.

Liver Biopsy

It is not necessary to perform a liver biopsy in every case of NAFLD. Depending on whether you're at risk for NASH or if other tests reveal cirrhosis complications related to NASH, your doctor may recommend you undergo this test.

To determine whether your liver is inflamed or damaged, a biopsy is taken.

An outpatient surgery centre or hospital will perform this procedure.

Anaesthesia and pain medication will be given to you before the procedure.

The biopsy involves numbing the area and taking a small piece of liver tissue with a special needle.

In order to diagnose NASH, doctors must perform a liver biopsy.

How Do Doctors Treat FLD?

There hasn’t been any clinical or specific fatty liver disease treatment medication yet. Sad but true.

Researchers are investigating whether certain diabetes medicines or vitamin E can help.

But more research is needed. A more comprehensive research program is needed.

Then it can develop and test medications that can treat this condition.

Instead of treating the disease, doctors focus on controlling the factors that currently cause it.

Your doctor might advise you to lose weight as the first line of healing.
In order to reduce disease activity, you need to reduce weight steadily by 7–10%.
A rapid weight loss can, however, worsen NAFLD.
If you need to lose a lot of weight, you may want to consider weight loss surgery.

By not consuming alcohol, people with alcoholic fatty liver disease may be able to reverse it.
There will, however, be no reversal of cirrhosis.
It might be difficult for some people to give up alcohol.
But a doctor can guide you in doing so in a safe and supportive manner.

Cirrhosis and liver failure can result from NASH and alcoholic fatty liver disease.
There are two treatments at this stage: medication and surgery.
Cirrhosis can also cause portal hypertension and infections.
Transplantation may be necessary in the case of liver failure.

Things That Can Actually Help

What’s good for fatty liver disease? Well, it’s basically a lifestyle-related disease.

So focusing on the following aspects might help:

Changes in Lifestyle

Treatment for fatty liver disease begins with a change in lifestyle.

In a particular case, it might be useful to:

Reduce your weight
Stop alcohol consumption
Ensure your diet is nutrient-rich and low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium
Make sure you exercise every week for at least 2.5 hours
Reduce your cholesterol level
Control your diabetes

Research from 2020 found that supplementing with vitamin E may decrease the levels of ALT and AST, inflammation as well as excess fat in patients with NAFLD. It is still necessary to conduct more research. Consuming too much vitamin E can be harmful to your health.

It is always a good idea to check with your doctor before taking a new supplement or using a natural remedy. Natural remedies and supplements can put stress on your liver or interfere with your medications.

Dietary Changes

To prevent complications related to fatty liver disease, your doctor may suggest adjusting your diet.

Here are some examples of what they might suggest:

Maintain A Healthy Diet

Consider all food groups when choosing foods.
Among the foods that fall into this category are fresh fruits and vegetables.
Whole grains, lean proteins, low-fat dairy, and healthy fats and oils are also recommended.

Consume Fewer Calories

Consume low-calorie foods as much as possible.

Concentrate on Fibers

Your liver can benefit from fibre. In addition to fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
Fibre-rich foods are also available.

Restrict Certain Foods

Consume fewer foods that contain:

An ingredient in salt, sodium
Carbohydrates processed by refining, such as sweets, white rice, white bread, and other refined grains
Foods containing saturated fats, such as red meat, full-fat dairy products, and fried foods
Products that contain trans fats, like fried foods and most processed snacks

Make Sure Shellfish Is Not Raw Or Undercooked

If you consume raw or undercooked shellfish, you may suffer from serious illness caused by bacteria.

Deal with Alcohol Issues

Consult your doctor before drinking alcohol. Alcohol may be tolerated in moderation based on your liver health. AFLD patients must abstain from alcohol completely.

Drink Water

You can keep your liver healthy by drinking plenty of water.

Can You Reverse It?

The liver is capable of repairing itself in an amazing way.
You can reverse early liver damage if you avoid alcohol or lose weight.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Why suffer from this disturbing disease if you can prevent it beforehand?

Now you might be thinking about how to prevent fatty liver disease.

Here I will share the 6 steps to take to prevent FLD; 3 for ALD and 3 for NAFLD/NASH.

ALD

Don’t drink alcohol at all.
Hepatitis C can make you more likely to get cirrhosis if you drink. So keep it in check by regular

screening.

It is a good idea to check before mixing medications with alcohol.

NAFLD/NASH

Maintain a healthy diet.
Keeping a healthy weight is important. If necessary, lose weight.
Get moving. Make sure you work out most days of the week.

These steps will also develop your overall health.

FAQ

What is the fastest way to cure a fatty liver?

Ans. You can control or reverse NAFLD by losing weight, according to research.

But you can’t haste in this regard as it might worsen the condition.

Which fruit is best for the liver?

Ans. Fruits like apples, grapes, oranges, and lemons are liver-friendly fruits.

So pack them into your fruit basket.

Is Egg good for fatty liver?

Ans. While egg whites are good for your liver, overconsumption can cause digestive problems.

And the yellow yolk contains unhealthy cholesterol.

The Bottom Line

FLD is not something to chill about. It is much more widespread than you could possibly imagine. The damage it causes is significant. The liver is not something you can live without. So don’t take it for granted. Take proper care of your liver. Maintaining a proper lifestyle is the only way to save yourself from this silent disease. And hopefully, the steps from this article will help you win against fatty liver disease.

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