Fatty Liver Disease: Now the Most Common Liver Disorder
When you ask people what they think is the biggest liver problem today, they’ll generally tell you it’s cirrhosis. For a long time, they would have been correct. But not anymore.
The new number one enemy of liver health is obesity, which is the primary cause of a disorder called fatty liver disease.
Public health experts in the United States and Canada now agree that obesity, caused by poor nutritional habits and a sedentary lifestyle, has become a bigger threat to liver health than cirrhosis. Simply put, there are a lot more heavy people than there are heavy drinkers. Therefore, more individuals are at risk for fatty liver disease than cirrhosis.
Understanding a little bit about how the liver works will help you appreciate why fatty liver disease is so dangerous.
One of the most important jobs done by the liver is metabolizing fat from the food we eat. But when we eat too much or don’t exercise enough, large droplets of fat start to accumulate in the liver. As these fat droplets build up, the liver starts producing more enzymes, which can cause inflammation of liver tissue. This inflammation eventually causes scarring and cirrhosis, in which the liver becomes hardened and liver function decreases.
The name fatty liver disease, therefore, is a perfect description of what happens when you have it.
Recent public health studies have estimated that one in five Americans probably has some degree of fatty liver disease (which also goes by the name of fatty liver syndrome). Sources at the Canadian Liver Foundation recently warned that fatty liver syndrome is now the fastest growing (and most common) liver problem in Canada.
Fatty liver disease is also one of the “silent killers” because it doesn’t present symptoms until a lot of liver damage has already occurred. When symptoms finally start to appear, they might include the following:
- swelling in the abdominal area
- right side abdominal discomfort and pain
- you start to experience a lot of itching
- jaundice, or yellowing of the skin
These symptoms should prompt you to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. He or she can run some liver function tests. If the tests show that your liver has grown (known as an enlarged liver) and your liver enzymes have become elevated, then you probably have fatty liver disease.
Even if you don’t have the symptoms mentioned above, your doctor may want to have liver function tests done if you’re overweight and don’t get much exercise. Liver function tests can be a valuable tool for preventing fatty liver disease in high risk groups.
Identifying the cause of your fatty liver disease will influence your treatment. Special treatment is not always necessary if fatty liver disease is discovered in the early stages. Simple lifestyle changes can help return your liver to a healthy state. Losing weight is important. A healthier diet that includes fewer fatty foods and a regular exercise regimen can be extremely beneficial. Liver function will also improve if you cut back or completely eliminate your alcohol intake. Individuals with diabetes must carefully monitor their blood sugar levels.
If you want more information on subjects related to this article, click on Obesity and Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Pain. Neal Kennedy is a retired TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He frequently contributes articles to The Human Liver, a resource website about liver health and digestive wellness.
Tags: Abdominal Discomfort, Canadian Liver Foundation, fatty liver disease, Fatty Liver Syndrome, Heavy Drinkers, How The Liver Works, Inflammation Of Liver, liver, Liver Damage, Liver Disorder, liver function, Liver Health, Liver Inflammation, Liver Problem, Liver Tissue, Number One Enemy, obesity, Poor Nutritional Habits, Public Health Experts, Public Health Studies, Sedentary Lifestyle, Silent Killers