Fatty liver occurs when excess fat accumulates inside liver cells to protect it from excess metabolic and dietary acids. This means normal, healthy liver tissue becomes partly replaced with fatty tissue to protect against the acidic waste products of lifestyle and diet.
The fat starts to increase in the liver, gradually infiltrating the healthy liver areas, so that less and less healthy liver tissue remains.
The fatty liver has a yellow greasy appearance and is often enlarged and swollen with fat. This fatty infiltration slows down the metabolism of body fat stores, which means that the liver burns fat less efficiently, resulting in weight gain and inability to lose weight. However some people can have a fatty liver without being overweight.
Fatty liver is a reversible condition and often has no symptoms and does not cause any permanent damage.
The liver is the second largest organ in the body. The liver’s function is to process everything we eat or drink and filter any harmful substances from the blood. The liver commonly repairs itself by rebuilding new liver cells when the old ones are damaged. When there is repeated damage to the liver, permanent scarring takes place. This is called cirrhosis.
Most cases of fatty liver are detected between ages 40 and 60. When fatty liver is caused by an underlying condition, it can become harmful to the liver if the cause is not recognized and treated.
There are typically no symptoms of fatty liver. Some people experience fatigue or vague abdominal discomfort. The liver may become slightly enlarged—which will be noticed by the doctor thorough a physical exam.
There are typically no symptoms of fatty liver. Some people experience fatigue or vague abdominal discomfort. The liver may become slightly enlarged—which will be noticed by the doctor thorough a physical exam.
If the liver has become inflamed, there may be other symptoms, such as poor appetite, weight loss, and feeling extremely weak, sick, or tired.
The most common cause of a fatty liver is alcoholism. Almost all heavy drinkers have fatty liver disease due to severe metabolic acidosis. Other causes are toxins, certain drugs, and inherited metabolic disorders. In many cases, doctors are not exactly sure what causes fatty liver in people who aren’t alcoholics, but it has been associated with high blood cholesterol, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
Fatty liver develops when the body creates too much fat or cannot metabolize fat fast enough. As a result, the leftover is stored in liver cells where it accumulates to become fatty liver disease.
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There are different types of fatty liver:
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There are different types of fatty liver:
– Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver
Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) develops when the liver has difficulty breaking down fats, which causes a buildup in the liver tissue. The cause is not related to alcohol. NAFL is diagnosed when more than 10 percent of the liver is fat.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) develops when the liver has difficulty breaking down fats, which causes a buildup in the liver tissue. The cause is not related to alcohol. NAFL is diagnosed when more than 10 percent of the liver is fat.
– Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Alcoholic fatty liver is the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease. The liver is damaged by heavy drinking and unable to break down fats. If the patient abstains from alcohol and eat healthy, the fatty liver will go away. Within six weeks of being alcohol-free, the fat will disappear. However, if excessive alcohol use continues, cirrhosis may develop.
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Since fatty liver is the buildup of extra fats in the liver, it is more likely to develop if someone is overweight or obese.
Other factors that may increase the risk for fatty liver are:
• excessive alcohol use
• excessive use of over-the-counter medication can increase your risk of fatty liver
• type 2 diabetes (fat accumulation in the liver has been linked to insulin resistance, the most common cause of type 2 diabetes)
• high cholesterol
• high triglyceride levels
• malnutrition
• metabolic syndrome
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Possible symptoms of fatty liver include:
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• Weight excess in the abdominal area
• Inability to lose weight
• Elevated cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels
• Fatigue
• Nausea and/or indigestion
• Constipation
• Overheating of the body
• Excessive sweating
• Red itchy eyes
• Discomfort over the liver area
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How to diagnose a Fatty Liver
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– Physical Exam
If the liver has become inflamed, physician can detect it by examining the abdomen. An extensive history may reveal fatigue or loss of appetite as well. A thorough history will include poor diet, alcohol use and other medications or supplements.
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– Blood Tests
Higher than normal liver enzymes may be found on a routine blood test. This does not confirm a diagnosis of fatty liver. Further analysis will look for the cause of inflammation.
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– Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound and Thermography
Ultrasound of the abdomen (anatomical test) usually shows the liver is “echogenic,” that is more dense than usual toward sound waves. The liver can also be enlarged due to fat.
Thermography is the test of physiology and is the only test to visualize the inflammation in the liver.
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– Other imaging studies may be done as well such as a CT (computed tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
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To reduce the risk of fatty liver, make healthy lifestyle choices, such as:
• Avoid alcohol consumption
• Avoid smoking
• Discontinue drugs or toxins
• Avoid fast and junk food
• Choose a healthy diet
• Use antioxidants to protect further damage to the liver
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Increase hydration with alkaline ionized water and raw green juices
• Exercise every day
• Add a lymphatic massage and infrared sauna to your routine
Alcoholic fatty liver is the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease. The liver is damaged by heavy drinking and unable to break down fats. If the patient abstains from alcohol and eat healthy, the fatty liver will go away. Within six weeks of being alcohol-free, the fat will disappear. However, if excessive alcohol use continues, cirrhosis may develop.
.
Since fatty liver is the buildup of extra fats in the liver, it is more likely to develop if someone is overweight or obese.
Other factors that may increase the risk for fatty liver are:
• excessive alcohol use
• excessive use of over-the-counter medication can increase your risk of fatty liver
• type 2 diabetes (fat accumulation in the liver has been linked to insulin resistance, the most common cause of type 2 diabetes)
• high cholesterol
• high triglyceride levels
• malnutrition
• metabolic syndrome
.
Possible symptoms of fatty liver include:
.
• Weight excess in the abdominal area
• Inability to lose weight
• Elevated cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels
• Fatigue
• Nausea and/or indigestion
• Constipation
• Overheating of the body
• Excessive sweating
• Red itchy eyes
• Discomfort over the liver area
.
How to diagnose a Fatty Liver
.
– Physical Exam
If the liver has become inflamed, physician can detect it by examining the abdomen. An extensive history may reveal fatigue or loss of appetite as well. A thorough history will include poor diet, alcohol use and other medications or supplements.
.
– Blood Tests
Higher than normal liver enzymes may be found on a routine blood test. This does not confirm a diagnosis of fatty liver. Further analysis will look for the cause of inflammation.
.
– Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound and Thermography
Ultrasound of the abdomen (anatomical test) usually shows the liver is “echogenic,” that is more dense than usual toward sound waves. The liver can also be enlarged due to fat.
Thermography is the test of physiology and is the only test to visualize the inflammation in the liver.
•
– Other imaging studies may be done as well such as a CT (computed tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
.
To reduce the risk of fatty liver, make healthy lifestyle choices, such as:
• Avoid alcohol consumption
• Avoid smoking
• Discontinue drugs or toxins
• Avoid fast and junk food
• Choose a healthy diet
• Use antioxidants to protect further damage to the liver
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Increase hydration with alkaline ionized water and raw green juices
• Exercise every day
• Add a lymphatic massage and infrared sauna to your routine
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