All You Need To Know About Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and the third most common reason for liver transplants in the United States.

NAFLD refers to a range of conditions caused by the development of excessive fat inside liver cells.

A rather stereotyped image surrounds NAFLD—many think that it’s caused by alcohol. However,  it’s the buildup of extra fat that’s the real culprit.

This disease occurs in four stages:

Simple fatty liver disease - Buildup of fat in liver cells.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis - Excess fat stored in the liver cells causes inflammation.

Fibrosis - Any form of persistent hepatitis can result in the formation of scar tissues (fibrosis) in the liver.

Cirrhosis - A serious condition where the function of the liver is disrupted due to fibrosis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease afflicts people of all age groups. However, those in their 50s are at a higher risk because of other associated conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

What Are The Symptoms of NAFLD

The symptoms of NAFLD aren’t usually very evident. However, if they do occur, the symptoms may include an enlarged liver, fatigue and pain in the upper right abdomen.

The risk factors for developing NAFLD include:

Age

Obesity

Medicines 

Sleep apnea

Type 2 Diabetes

Metabolic syndrome

High blood pressure

High level of blood fats 

Rapid weight loss

Long-Term Effects Of NAFLD

Cirrhosis remains undetected in the early period of NAFLD. This eventually leads to many other complications, including portal hypertension and increased blood pressure.

Cirrhosis can also be triggered by other causes like Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections and autoimmune conditions.

In its later stages, NAFLD can prompt Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), which is characteristic of inflammation and damage, notwithstanding the fat in the liver. This can then develop into Chronic Liver Disease.

If this process isn’t detected at the right time, it may lead to:

Fluid development in the stomach area

Swelling of veins in the throat

Confusion, laziness and slurred speech

Liver malignancy

End-stage liver dysfunction, which implies that the liver’s stopped working

Tips To Prevent And Treat NAFLD

Lose weight and exercise.

Improve your diet even if you have trouble losing weight.

Don’t rely on experimental treatments. Consult trusted experts.

Get your other medical conditions treated.