Is fatty liver dangerous?
Fatty liver disease:
A frequent disorder
called fatty
liver disease (steatosis) is brought on by an accumulation of too much fat
in the liver. A tiny amount of fat can be found in a healthy liver. When fat
amounts to 5% to 10% of the weight of your liver, it becomes an issue.
The majority of the
time, fatty liver disease doesn't result in any serious issues or interfere
with your liver's ability to function regularly. The problem, however, worsens
over time for 7% to 30% of those who have it. It advances via three phases:
- Scar tissue forms where your liver is
damaged. This process is called fibrosis.
- Your liver becomes inflamed (swollen),
which damages its tissue. This stage is called steatohepatitis.
- Extensive scar tissue replaces healthy
tissue. At this point, you have cirrhosis of the liver.
Cirrhosis
of the liver: Cirrhosis
of the liver is brought on by significant liver injury. The liver's
function is slowed down by the tough scar tissue that has replaced healthy
liver tissue. It may eventually completely stop the liver from functioning.
Liver failure and liver cancer can result from cirrhosis.
The
forms of fatty liver disease:
There are two main
forms of fatty liver disease:
Alcohol-induced
fatty liver disease: Regular alcohol use leads to the
development of fatty liver disease.
Non-alcohol related fatty liver disease:
The phrase "non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease" (NAFLD) refers to a number of disorders brought
on by an accumulation of fat in the liver. Obese or overweight individuals
frequently exhibit it.
The majority of the
time, early-stage NAFLD is harmless, but if it worsens, it can result in severe
liver damage, including cirrhosis. High liver fat levels are linked to a higher
risk of issues like diabetes, heart
attacks, and strokes.
The
symptoms of fatty liver disease:
People with fatty liver
disease often have no symptoms until the disease progresses to cirrhosis of the
liver. If you do have symptoms, they may include:
- Abdominal pain or a feeling of fullness
in the upper right side of the abdomen (belly).
- Yellowish skin and whites of the eyes
(jaundice).
- Weakness.
- Nausea, loss of appetite or weight loss.
- Extreme tiredness or mental confusion.
- Swollen abdomen and legs (edema).
Fatty
liver disease treated: For fatty liver disease, there is
no specific medicine. The focus of medical care is on assisting you in managing
the conditions' contributing elements. They also advise adopting lifestyle
modifications that can greatly enhance your health.
Liver
transplant:
You may need to be
added to the liver transplant waiting list if you develop severe cirrhosis and
your liver no longer functions properly.
For liver transplants
from recently deceased donors, the average waiting period for adults is 145
days.
A transplant using a
piece of liver taken from a living donor may also be an option. Since the liver
has the ability to regenerate, both the transplanted portion and the remaining
portion of the donor's liver can enlarge to their natural size.
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