Beneath the surface of global health concerns lies a stealthy adversary, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), quietly proliferating and poised to become the silent pandemic of our era. This metabolic disorder,...
What is Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?
Fatty liver disease is the abnormal deposition of fat around the liver specially NAFLD(Non-alcoholic fatty Liver disease) is an umbrella of liver disease caused due to little or no alcohol consumption and several conditions like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, it can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, Sedentary Lifestyle, high-calorie food consumption are the consequence of NAFLD
Patients of this disease have increased dramatically over recent years According to a survey conducted by the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology nearly 25% of urban people and 20% of the rural inhabitants are suffering from this disease, The prevalence of NAFLD in India is around 40% so a proper prevention and action plan should be made to control the disease.
Symptoms of NAFLD
NAFLD comes with no symptoms but here are the some symptoms mentioned here
- Extreme Fatigue
- Discomfort in the upper right part of the abdomen,
- A feeling of fullness in the right side of the abdomen
- Bloating
- Swelling of arms and legs
- Loss of appetite
- Confusion in mind
- Change in skin colour
Some of the Other symptoms of NAFLD Are:
- Abdominal swelling
- Blood Vessels enlargement
- Spleen enlargement
- Jaundice- yellowing of the skin and eyes
Possible causes of NAFLD
NAFLD can be triggered by certain risk factors such as
- Being overweight
- Insulin resistance
- Diabetes or prediabetes
- High cholesterol
- Dyslipidemia-deranged blood lipids
- Genetic predisposition- family history of fatty liver condition or cirrhosis
Diagnosis of NAFLD
Screening and diagnosis of NFLD can be done by checking for the signs of symptoms associated with it and requires immediate diagnosis here are some of the tests that doctors can consult on the type of symptoms and medical condition of a patient:
Blood Test
- Complete blood count(CBC) test
- Liver function tests- measure the level of alanine aminotransferase
- Celiac disease screening test- tTG-IgA and total serum IgA
- Fasting blood sugar
- Haemoglobin A1C- determines blood sugar stability
- Lipid profile- Measures cholesterol and triglycerides
Imaging Tests
Some of the imaging tests can be consulted to check the anatomy of a fatty liver:
- Abdominal ultrasound-Initial image tests performed for liver disorders.
- Computerised tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: Scans the abdomen to know the Liver condition
- Transient elastography: An advanced ultrasound procedure that measures the liver elasticity indicating the extent of fibrosis
- Magnetic resonance elastography: Magnetic resonance elastography This imaging procedure combines MRI with ultrasound waves to create an elastogram indicating the elasticity of the body tissues.
- Liver tissue biopsy: This is performed to examine the liver tissues in the laboratory to detect liver conditions.
Prevention and Treatment of NAFLD
NAFLD can be treated through Lifestyle changes and by taking some preventive measures the the NAFLD can be reduced and ensure easy and fast recovery.
- Weight Management- By adopting health practices and food habits one can reduce weight and prevent the risk of NAFLD
- Healthy Diet- Choosing a well-balanced diet that is low in calories will help prevent this disease
- Medications- Certain Medications like Lipaglyn can reduce fat deposition improve liver health and help reduce diabetes, Hypertension, and high cholesterol levels.
- Therapy- Certain therapies can help reduce the risk of NAFLD including Pharmacotherapy with Vitamin E and pioglitazone reduce NAFLD and help in fast recovery.
- Avoiding beverages- Limit caffeine-containing drinks that can influence liver damage
Conclusion
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is a condition affecting people who consume little or no alcohol this causes excess fat to accumulate in the liver and affects one-fourth of the world population. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and a good balanced diet can help reduce the risk of this disease but if left untreated lead to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis so be active and keep this disease away from you.
FAQs
What is fatty liver disease?
Fatty Liver disease is the deposition of excess fat in the liver that may lead to underlying medical conditions and requires immediate medical attention.
Is fatty Liver condition painful?
It may cause pain in the upper right part of the abdomen, it gets painful over time
What are the tests available for this disease?
Tests like Liver function test, Cell blood count test, Vitamin D test, and lipid profile tests are some of the tests used for the diagnosis of this disease
Is Grade 1 fatty liver curable?
Yes, It is curable if detected in the early stage by adopting a healthy lifestyle one may decrease the progression of this disease.
