Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease occurs due to several factors, and it’s a mild condition in most of the cases, but it might lead to serious complications sometimes if it isn’t managed.

Fatty liver disease

Fatty liver disease occurs when the fat builds up in the liver. A healthy liver usually contains a small amount of fat, but in case the fat buildup becomes more than 5% of the liver weight, then there is a problem.

Types of fatty liver disease

• Alcoholic fatty liver disease: it occurs due to excessive alcohol consumption.
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or metabolic: it occurs due to cardiometabolic risk factors, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
• Alcoholic and metabolic fatty liver disease.

Causes of fatty liver disease

• Excessive alcohol consumption.
• Metabolic syndrome.
• PCOS.
• Obesity and overweight.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Obstructive sleep apnea.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Decreased pituitary and sexual hormones.
• Some medications.

Symptoms of fatty liver disease

• Usually, steatotic liver disease doesn’t cause symptoms, and in case it does, it causes pain in the upper right part of the abdomen, extreme tiredness, and weakness.
• If fatty liver disease isn’t managed, it could lead to severe complications, such as hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis.

Diagnosis of fatty liver disease

• Medical history.
• Physical examination.
• Blood tests.
• Imaging tests.
• Biopsy.

Management of fatty liver disease

There isn’t a specific treatment for fatty liver disease; rather, the condition is managed by:

• Avoiding alcohol.
• Losing weight if needed.
• Following a healthy diet.
• Exercising regularly.
• Managing other conditions, if any.