A Look at Fatty Liver

The prevalence of non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis, commonly referred to as fatty liver disease, is gaining attention in the media. As suggested by its name, this condition impacts the liver and is on the rise. The associated complications can be significant, and it is essential to explore comprehensive information about fatty liver disease.

Too Much Fat in the Liver

Fatty liver disease occurs due to the accumulation of fat in the liver, where it can account for more than 5% to 10% of the liver’s weight in affected individuals. This excess fat triggers inflammation, potentially resulting in permanent harm.

Patient Need to Drink Less Alcoholic

It’s surprising that you don’t have to drink a lot of alcohol to get non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Even if you’ve never had any alcohol, you could still get it. But remember, drinking too much alcohol is still bad for your liver and usually causes liver damage.

No Symptoms Seen  

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is tricky because it often doesn’t show any symptoms. But if you have it, you might feel pain in the upper right side of your belly, feel tired, or just not feel well. Sometimes, people with this condition also have a big belly, red palms, and yellowish eyes and skin.

Men Statistics 

Men are more likely to get fatty liver disease than women who haven’t gone through menopause yet. But after menopause, women’s risk of getting the disease becomes similar to men’s.

Kids, Teens and Adults Statistics 

Even though this sickness is more common in people over 50, kids, teenagers, and young adults can still get it. In fact, more than a quarter of Americans aged 15 to 39 have it, which is 50% more than 30 years ago. Shockingly, almost 10% of kids in the U.S. have it too. It’s worrying that even two-year-olds have been diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Cause One: Overweight 

Fatty liver disease usually doesn’t show symptoms, but there are some things that make it more likely to happen. The biggest one is being overweight. In a study, scientists discovered that 65.9% of obese people had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and 14.3% had either non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or fibrosis. 

Cause Two: Diabetes Type 2

Type 2 diabetes is also a big risk for getting fatty liver disease. A study showed that 49% of people with diabetes had it. And in those who had a liver biopsy, the worst kind of the disease (called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) was found in 65.5% (mild), 12.5% (moderate), and 9.35% (severe) of the patients.

Causes Three: Dyslipidemia

People with dyslipidemia, which means having too much fat in the blood, have a higher chance of getting fatty liver disease than others. This includes people with high cholesterol levels, high chylomicron levels, and high triglyceride levels.

Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Challenges

When fatty liver disease isn’t treated, it can get worse in 5% to 20% of cases and turn into a severe type called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). At this point, the liver gets inflamed and keeps getting hurt, similar to what happens when someone drinks a lot of alcohol.

Read the Original Espresso