What is a fatty liver, symptoms and effects

March 12th, 2022 by Dr S Smithson Leave a reply »

There are two main types of Fatty Liver Disease: Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic.

There is considerable press coverage on the Alcohol-fuelled liver problems, and indeed they are serious, but the most common causes of liver problems, and the life symptoms they give come from non-alcohol causes. Alcoholic fatty liver is an early and reversible consequence of excessive alcohol consumption. Nonalcoholic fatty liver is a build up of fat in the liver, usually caused by lifestyle choices of the wrong mix of food and exercise. In most cases, this has been building up over a period of time and more often reflects the need to change habits as you get older, rather than having had the wrong habits.

What Is Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease describes a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat within liver cells. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease can sometimes be harmless to the liver itself in the short-term, but sometimes it may cause the liver to swell. It is a common condition that has many different causes, including some drugs and genetic disorders, although it is mostly caused by lifestyles. The most common causes of serious Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease are obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels, but the start of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease can be from over eating, under exercising or just the wrong mix of food and lifestyle. Fatty Liver Disease is the most common chronic (persistent) liver disorder in western countries such as the US. It is thought to occur in about 1 in 5 adults in the US, and in up to 4 in 5 adults who are obese, often leading to serious liver disease. This only drops to 3 in 5 who are overweight, and the older you are the more at risk you are.

Can My Doctor Tell If I Have Fatty Liver Disease ?

If you have Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, you may feel fullness or pain in the mid or upper right side of the abdomen. Most people do not have any specific symptoms. If you visit your doctor, they may check your blood first and then order a scan of your liver if they have any medical concerns for its health. However as most fatty liver problems can be corrected by changes to lifestyle, now may be a good time to be honest with yourself as to what you ned to do to feel fit and good again.

What Can I Expect if I have Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ?

For most people, the early onset of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is medically harmless and does not cause serious health problems. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease usually does not affect how well the liver works initially, but left unchecked can progress from associated symptoms to full-blown liver disease. However, in some people, Fatty Liver Disease may stop the liver from working correctly at a very early stage. No one can predict who will have early onset problems. It is more likely to happen in people with diabetes or who are very overweight. If in any doubt see your Doctor.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease will almost always manifest itself in other ways through the body, for example with abdominal pains, general tiredness, sudden stabbing pains in your sides. Addressing the root cause of the fatty liver will remove all the symptoms too, making you feel better, fitter and more alive than you currently do. It will also help to remove the serious health worries and concerns you will naturally have if you do nothing to halt the advance of a fatty liver.

Having Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease does increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. In fact, people with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease are actually more likely to become ill and die from cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack than from a liver problem. Therefore, you must take it a priority to not underestimate the importance of reducing any ‘lifestyle’ risk factors that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. For example, not smoking, keeping your weight in check, taking regular exercise, and eating a healthy balanced diet. The Ezra Protocol diet will assist in all these areas and is a good place to start.

How can NAFLD be Treated?

The good news is that people with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease usually do not need any medical (surgical) treatment. The most important thing is to focus on what has led to the Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and to take measure to prevent ongoing damage before moving into areas covering how to reduce it. Losing weight slowly may reduce the amount of fat in your liver. Losing weight quickly may make things worse as you try to force your body to change rather than slowly adapt.

If your cholesterol and sugar levels are high, your doctor may give you medicine to control them. As with anything to do with the body, slow and steady changes will make much more progress than an attempt to step-change your lifestyle.

In Summary

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease describes a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat within liver cells. It is very common and in many cases is linked to being overweight. Most people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease do not develop serious liver problems but have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke. If you are overweight, the main treatment advised for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is usually structured program of weight loss and regular exercise in a correct mix such a the Ezra Protocol will give. This not only helps with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease but will help reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Ezra Protocol has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions including fatty liver disease.

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