TREATMENT TO COPE WITH FATTY LIVER DISEASE
A fatty liver disease takes place when excess fat build up in liver cells. This is one of the most general liver problems which is a result of drinking excess alcohol or may be unrelated to alcohol. Generally obesity is believed to be major cause of non alcoholic fatty liver diseases and is most common in men and people suffering from diabetes. Fatty liver disease sometimes contributes to life threatening diseases like liver cancer and cirrhosis as well. A liver with little or no fat is said to be healthy liver. In most of the cases simple fatty liver does not come with symptoms and even not lead to complication. The mild stage of this disease is known as simple fatty liver or ‘hepatic steatosis’ while the severe or worse one stage of this disease is called as ‘steatohepatitis’. Alcoholic liver disease and non alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) are main two types of fatty liver disease. Excess intake of alcohol is known to be primary reason of developing disease called as fatty liver disease. If you consume alcohol in limit then the chances of occurring liver disease also gets reduce. Studies indicate that genetics also plays an important role in the development of fatty liver. Besides that, alcoholism combined with factors like obesity, fatty diet and other liver problems enhances the chances of developing this medical condition.
SYMPTOMS OF FATTY LIVER DISEASE
Fatty liver disease often does not accompany with symptoms when it is in a mild condition. Still you may notice tiredness, pain and discomfort when your liver is on the right side of your body under ribs. This pain occurs due to excess amount of fat present in your liver which expanded, stretching the sensitive membranes that cover your liver. When fatty liver disease progresses, liver become more scarred and develop severe condition called cirrhosis. Once if you develop cirrhosis condition you may notice symptoms like itchy skin, bruising easily, swollen abdomen, vomiting, weakness, poor memory or confusion, yellow whites of eyes and skin (jaundice). If you noticed any of these symptoms then directly go to your physician immediately.
CAUSES OF FATTY LIVER DISEASES
• Consumptions of alcohol in large amount
• Habit of Inactive or sedentary lifestyle
• Lack of exercises, obesity
• Hypertension, diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia (huge fat in the blood) and rapid weight loss
• Gastric bypass surgery is also thought to be cause of fatty live in some cases
• Malnutrition and starvation for long period is also responsible for causing fatty liver diseases.
• Prolonged use of certain types of medication such as tetracycline is lead to fatty liver condition
• Medical condition like high cholesterol level, hypothyroidism and PCOS are also some of the possible causes of fatty liver.
• People affected with hepatitis C, inflammatory bowel disease and HIV has more chances of developing fatty liver.
• The medical condition called acute fatty liver may develop during pregnancy and can affect mother and her fetus as well.
• Immunosuppressive medication used for condition of rheumatoid arthritis and anti-retroviral therapy can also contributes to fatty liver.
DIAGNOSIS OF FATTY LIVER DISEASE
First of all your physician will ask you about your symptoms and may examine you. Then he might ask you about your medical history. As a result be honest and told everything to your physician about your lifestyle and the amount of alcohol you consume. This will help him to know the right diagnosis as fatty liver disease is sometimes difficult to identify because sometime you may not have any symptoms. In order to diagnosis fatty liver you physician may suggest you below listed test.
• Physical exam:-
If the liver has become inflamed, your physician can observe it by testing the abdomen. Thus, the broad history may disclose fatigue or loss of appetite also. However the entire history can also include alcohol use, other medications and supplements.
• Blood tests:-
The quantity of liver enzymes can be identified in a routine blood test. However this does not helps to find a diagnosis of fatty liver but may help to know the exact cause of inflammation.
This is particularly similar to an ultrasound scan and may help to show any scarring of your liver.
• Ultrasound or scan:-
Various CT scan (computed tomography), MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging), and ultrasound or scan are conducted in order to create images of your liver. This image plays a crucial role in analyzing the presence of fat in your liver.
• Liver Biopsy:-
This test is important to confirm how much damage is there to your liver. A biopsy is one kind of a small sample of tissue. It is utilized along with a very fine hollow needle and it inserted into your liver under local anaesthetic. After that, sample is sent out to a laboratory for analysis purpose.
TREATMENT AND PREVENTIVE TIPS TO GET RID OF FATTY LIVER DISEASE
Presently there is no effective medication to treat fatty liver disease. If the main causes are associated with diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia, then in such a case treatment is based on lifestyle modification, weight loss and physical activity to lower the amount of fat present in the liver. Patient who are highly obese are strictly recommended to achieve a gradual and sustained weight loss with the help of proper nutrition and exercise.
However fatty liver disease can be prevent easily by focusing on healthy lifestyle. Try maximum to reduce excess weight as obesity is the leading cause of fatty liver disease. Thus always remember that a healthy well balanced diet and exercise plays a key role in any weight loss regimen. The tips listed below may help to prevent fatty liver disease at greater extent.
• Concentrate to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
• Reduce excess weight and try to achieve a healthy weight
• Put limit on sugar consumption and lower the consumption of fried food
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid excess intake of alcohol.
• Give preference to balanced diet that is low in saturated fat and rich in fiber.