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.