Fatty liver is when the liver accumulates excess fat, which can lead to inflammation, liver damage, and cirrhosis. Symptoms may not be apparent, but fatigue, abdominal discomfort, and weight loss can occur. Causes include alcohol abuse, high-fat diets, malnutrition, and medical conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Treatment depends on the cause and may include sobriety, low-fat diets, exercise, and medication.
A fatty liver is a condition in which the liver accumulates excess fat. Livers will naturally contain some fat. If the fat accumulation is greater than 10% of the total liver weight, however, this is considered a fatty liver. Sometimes, this condition may cause no medical complications, but that’s not always the case.
One of the possible complications of this condition is steatohepatitis, which is inflammation of the liver. This can lead to liver damage. A damaged liver can become hardened and scarred, which is a condition called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can be a serious medical condition that can lead to liver failure. A patient with untreated liver failure can experience brain swelling, bleeding disorders, and infections.
This condition does not directly cause any symptoms, however, symptoms due to liver damage may become apparent. If the liver damage becomes severe, which can take years, the patient may experience fatigue, abdominal discomfort, and weight loss. Some patients may also have confusion and general weakness.
There are two general types of fatty liver. If the condition is due to alcohol abuse, it is referred to as alcoholic fatty liver. When the condition is caused by other factors, it is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
This condition can be caused by more than one factor. Alcohol abuse often causes it. An excessively high-fat diet can help contribute to the condition, however, it may not be the only cause. Malnutrition and rapid weight loss may also be contributing factors. Other medical conditions may also be associated with this, such as diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity.
The diagnosis can be accidental, as it does not cause symptoms by itself. More likely, a patient will have blood tests done for other reasons, and the doctor may notice an abnormality. A doctor may also discover an enlarged liver during a physical exam. Patients will likely need to undergo additional tests, such as an X-ray or ultrasound. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will also need to take a liver biopsy or a small sample of tissue for testing.
There is no standard treatment for this condition. Instead, your treatment plan will depend on the factors causing the condition. If the condition is caused by alcohol abuse, the patient will need to take steps to stop drinking. Typically, about six weeks of sobriety is enough for the liver to reduce its fat content.
If the patient is overweight or obese, a doctor can help the patient develop a low-fat diet plan for safe weight loss. Regular exercise can also help reduce this condition. If the patient has high blood cholesterol, he may be prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs. Patients who are treating their liver should have regular medical checkups to assess progress.
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