- The human liver is the largest organ inside your body, which helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons.
- Fatty liver is a condition in which fat builds up around your liver.
- Having small amounts of fat in your liver is normal, but too much can become a health risk and result in fatty liver disease.
The liver is the largest and most essential organ in the human body. Its job is to filter and remove the toxins that are produced in your body daily. When the liver is not functioning properly, it could lead to a fatty liver.
BY: GUY JABBAR
This condition occurs when too much fat builds-up around the liver. And unfortunately, those who suffer from a fatty liver could possibly later lead to more harmful effects on the rest of your body.
What is Fatty Liver Disease?
Fatty liver disease, also known as Hepatic Steatosis, is what happens when your liver ceases to function properly, which then contributes to other life–threatening damages to the body.
Here’s what occurs when you’re affected with fatty liver disease:
- The liver finds it difficult to digest food
- It becomes extremely difficult to store energy
- the liver no longer is able to remove poisons that passes through
Additionally, one of the main contributing factors of fatty liver disease is poor lifestyle choices like heavy alcohol consumption (alcoholic fatty liver disease) and an unhealthy diet (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).
What are some common signs and symptoms?
According to studies, there are more than 3 million cases of fatty liver disease in the United States each year. This condition is usually found in adults 50 and older.
Although a fatty liver can cause detrimental harm to your body, it can be treated by medical professionals if it’s detected in its earlier stages.
Here are 10 Fatty Liver Warning Signs and Symptoms:
- ABDOMINAL PAIN
A fatty liver causes extreme constant pain that doesn’t seem to go away on its own.
It normally occurs in the upper right side of the abdominal area. These problems usually coincide with digestion issues.
Although abdominal pain alone isn’t a clear indication of fatty liver disease; however, it’s a clear indicator that you have fatty liver.
- TIREDNESS
The most common symptom of this condition and nearly all individuals burdened with this disease, often report suffering from some levels of fatigue.
In fact, many patients of this disease complain that the fatigue is so overbearing that it may result in both physical and mental fatigue.
As the central nervous system becomes affected, in many cases individuals with extreme mental fatigue are unable to gather the motivation to perform basic tests and require assistance from others to meet their basic needs.
- APPETITE LOSS
Fatty liver disease often affects the hormones that control your hunger urges. Without adequate quantities of hormones to stimulate hunger your appetite will vanish which could indicate there’s a serious problem.
Additionally, fatty liver disease can also contribute to abnormal glucose regulation
and lipid metabolism. So, without consuming sufficient calories and being unable to pull from lipid sources for energy—the body quickly deteriorates when the liver doesn’t function properly.
- WEIGHT LOSS
Fatty liver disease is often a direct result of a lack of appetite as people start consuming fewer calories—which results in extreme weight loss for many patients who are affected by this condition.
The connection between fatty liver disease and unexplained weight loss is unclear, but extensive studies point to extreme oxidative stress that results from abnormal fat metabolism.
In other words, when the liver weakens it’s unable to break down fat for fuel.
- NAUSEA
The presence of nausea indicates that fatty liver disease has progressed to an advanced stage.
People who suffer from a fatty liver also often suffer from gastroesophageal reflux—which is a chronic digestive disease where the liquid content of the stomach flows into the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth and stomach.
This condition is very common. There are more than 3 million cases per year in the U.S.
The stomach acid flowing out of the stomach and entering the esophagus leads to both nausea and vomiting.
Another reason why fatty liver disease causes nausea is that the liver is unable to filter out toxins and waste products from the bloodstream.
These toxins build up to elevated levels, causing you to be sick to your stomach.
NOTE: Fatty liver disease is more common in females than males.
- WEAKNESS
Advanced fatty liver disease often results in weakness and fatigue as a result of the central nervous system not performing properly.
So, as a result, the body is under a chronic toxic load as the liver is unable to filter out toxins.
The liver has a primary role in energy metabolism as it regulates fat metabolism throughout the body. If the liver can’t perform lipolysis—which breaks down fat into glycerol and fatty acids.
When this occurs, the body can’t use stored fat for energy and causes extreme weakness.
- JAUNDICE
A healthy liver removes toxins from the bloodstream, but when it malfunctions and the liver is unable to process bilirubin, a waste product secreted from dying red blood cells.
Jaundice appears as a yellowish discoloration of the whites of your eyes and skin. It’s clearly an indication that something is wrong with the liver or pancreas.
In regards to fatty liver disease, jaundice is a clear indication that your condition has progressed to an advanced stage, and you should seek immediate consultation from a medical doctor.
- DARK-COLORED URINE
The reason why urine is unusually darker is that the kidneys take on the responsibility of your failing liver and discharge bilirubin.
Dark–colored urine is often an indication of cholestasis, which is a condition which impairs the flow of bile (poison) from the liver to the small intestine by either slowing or stopping the flow.
- SWOLLEN LEGS
A malfunctioning liver can cause a fluid build-up within the lower regions of the body, causing the legs to swell.
This type of edema (fluid retention) is a common symptom of a wide range of diseases mainly relating to problems with the circulatory system.
To help with the accumulation of fluid in the legs and feet, medical professionals suggest wearing compression stockings—which can be a temporary solution.
However, whatever is causing the edema or fluid retention must be corrected for the symptom to disappear for good.
- MALE BREAST ENLARGEMENT
Breast enlargement in men is a condition, known as Gynecomastia (Man Boobs).
This is an indication of hormonal changes within the body that affects 35 percent of men, being most prevalent between the ages of 50 and 69.
As a result of this condition, there’s an increase in the amount of breast gland tissue in boys or men, caused by an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone. It can affect one or both breasts, sometimes unevenly.
If the liver is unable to function properly, these hormonal changes may result in high estrogen production—which medical professionals agree that high estrogen levels in the bloodstream naturally result in breast enlargement.
NOTE: Gynecomastia is a hormonal change within the body that affects 35 percent of men in the U.S.
In addition, these medical experts also concur that some drugs used to treat liver conditions can also result in Gynecomastia.
How dangerous is fatty liver disease?
If left untreated, this condition can cause inflammation and scarring of the liver, which can lead to serious health problems like cirrhosis or permanent liver damage.
In conclusion, to avoid the detrimental effects of living with this disease, and reduce your risk or prevention of fatty liver disease, Mayoclinic suggest that you make some necessary lifestyle changes.
Here’s 3 main changes you should make:
- Healthy diet. Choose a healthy plant-based diet that’s rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats—like Plant oils, such as olive, canola, corn, peanut and other nut oils; nuts, such as almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, avocados, and fish; especially oily fish such as salmon and tuna.
- Healthy weight. If you are overweight or obese, reduce the number of calories you eat each day and get more exercise. If you have a healthy weight, work to maintain it by choosing a healthy diet and exercising.
- Exercise. Exercise at least 3 times a week. Regular exercise like walking can produce amazing results for your health.
Bottom Line
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, please consult a medical doctor as early as possible. In some severe cases of fatty liver disease, it may require medications or even surgery.
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