Fatty liver: A disease in which fat accumulates in the liver, how to avoid it?

 Fatty liver: A disease in which fat accumulates in the liver, how to avoid it?

In fatty liver disease, more than 5 to 10 percent of fat accumulates in the liver and this disrupts the functioning of the liver.

40 percent of the world's population has fatty liver problems and 25 percent has non-alcoholic fatty liver.

Lifestyle changes, weight control, regular exercise, and diabetes and cholesterol control are necessary in the treatment of fatty liver.

Fatty liver is commonly known as a disease in which fat accumulates in the liver. This is a condition in which abnormally harmful fat or fat accumulates in the liver.

The liver has many functions. Such as: detoxifying any food, helping with digestion, making essential proteins, storing essential elements and returning them to the blood when they are lacking, etc.

It performs important metabolic functions. But when the liver receives an excess amount of fat and cannot digest it and send it to the blood. When more than 5 to 10 percent of fat starts to accumulate in the liver cells, a disease like fatty liver begins.

This problem is also seen due to obesity, changing lifestyle, alcohol consumption, diabetes, which is common in many people these days.

According to a recently published study, 40 percent of the world's population is currently suffering from this disease. Of these, 25 percent have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore, this disease has now been described as a major public health problem.

The most common reason for liver transplants in the world is liver failure caused by alcohol consumption, followed by liver cancer and liver infection.

Having a fatty liver is not normal. Having a fatty liver disrupts the normal functioning of the liver. If left untreated, serious problems, such as cancer, can also occur in the long term.

Types and causes of fatty liver

There are two types of fatty liver.

1. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

This is a common problem that occurs in people who do not drink alcohol and is more common in people with diabetes, obesity, and an unhealthy lifestyle. In this problem, fat accumulates in the liver, but since the fat is present in small quantities, the liver does not swell or cause any damage. If there is swelling along with fat and damage to the liver cells, it is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

In such cases, cirrhosis and cancer may also occur.

Other causes or risk groups for this type of problem are as follows:

Obesity is the accumulation of excess fat in the body, fat also accumulates in the liver, and in this, fat accumulation in the abdomen is considered a higher risk for every disease.

-Type 2 diabetes: When there is excess fat accumulation in the liver due to insulin resistance.

-High cholesterol or TG: When there is excess bad fat or triglycerides in the blood.

-Metabolic syndrome: A combination of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol problems

-Unhealthy diet: Eating too much fat, sugar, and processed foods.

-Inactive lifestyle: Sitting at rest without physical activity.

-Drug effects: Long-term use of steroids, HIV, and cancer drugs.

-Hereditary: This disease is transmitted in very rare cases, sometimes genetically.

-Rare health problems: Inability to store fat properly in the body.

-Unnatural weight loss: Sudden weight loss and rapid severe malnutrition.

Other causes

Fatty liver problems are also seen due to thyroid problems, high blood pressure, sleep problems, or polycystic ovary syndrome in women.

2. Alcoholic fatty liver disease

This problem is seen in people who drink too much alcohol. The risk of this disease increases based on the amount and duration of alcohol consumption. People in this group are more likely to develop liver problems, liver failure, cirrhosis, cancer, and death if a liver transplant is not possible.

Other causes or risk groups for this type of disease are as follows:

-Long-term excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol reduces liver function.

-Nutritional deficiencies (vitamins and minerals) in alcohol drinkers.

Symptoms of fatty liver

There are no signs and symptoms when fatty liver is present, but the person is in a normal state, so there is no concern about it.

But when this disease starts causing serious problems, the following symptoms and signs appear in the body:

-Pain and swelling in the upper right side of the abdomen.

-Fatigue, weakness, and difficulty breathing.

-Swelling of the abdomen, swelling of the lungs, and fluid retention in the abdomen.

-Swelling of the legs, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

-Later, problems such as yellowing of the eyes and skin, itching of the skin, dark urine (symptoms of jaundice), difficulty swallowing, bleeding that does not stop, black stools, and confusion appear.

-If these symptoms are not treated or neglected, the disease can progress to a more serious condition and lead to liver inflammation and fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, and heart disease.

How to diagnose fatty liver?

-Take the patient's health history and perform a detailed observation.

-Do a blood test and liver biopsy to diagnose the condition.

-Do tests such as video X-ray, CT scan, or MRI, and fibro scan to determine the amount of fat and damage.

-Do a biopsy to determine whether cirrhosis or cancer is present.

Treatment of fatty liver disease

This disease There is no specific treatment for this disease. If the disease is identified in its early stages and lifestyle changes are made, the disease can be prevented from becoming complicated in time. Otherwise, prevention and control of the disease is also the treatment of this disease.

However, by finding out what caused the disease and treating the disease, the disease can be prevented from progressing. For example, if diabetes, cholesterol or insulin resistance need to be controlled, drugs for those problems can be used.

If it is caused by alcohol consumption, it can be cured by not drinking alcohol, completely controlling unhealthy food, and changing your lifestyle. Sometimes, vitamin E or antioxidant drugs can be used for a long time. If there is no cure at all, the final treatment is a liver transplant.

Prevention and Control

Since this disease is incurable once it has developed and causes a lot of physical damage, changing your lifestyle is the main solution to prevent the disease from occurring.

The following measures can be taken to prevent and control the disease by adopting lifestyle changes

Eating a healthy diet

For this, eat foods that are low in fat and sugar, fruits, vegetables and fiber-rich foods, but avoid processed foods, fast food and high-fat foods. Also, eating vegetables or fruits first, then eating protein and finally eating carbohydrates will not cause a sudden increase in sugar. In addition, irregular fasting for 16/8 hours and drinking coffee are also good for fatty liver.

Controlling weight

Maintaining a healthy weight by controlling food or exercising, and if it is excessive, gradually reduce it (0.5-1 kg per week) but do not lose weight suddenly, as this will cause more harm. Even if we lose only 3 percent of our weight, fatty liver starts to decrease. Reducing 5 percent reduces liver inflammation. Reducing 7-10 percent also cures liver and other organ disorders. Therefore, controlling weight is the best treatment for this problem.

Regular physical exercise

To strengthen muscles, keep all internal organs of the body active, increase metabolism, and stay fit, regular yoga practice and physical activity should be done. Yoga practice prevents many diseases.

For this, walking at least five thousand steps a day at a slow pace or practicing yoga regularly is also beneficial, which helps in burning fat faster. Similarly, after the age of 35, one should reduce muscle mass by 1-2 percent per year, otherwise there is a risk of diabetes and other diseases.

Do not consume alcohol

Since alcohol is the most harmful element for liver disease and fatty liver, do not consume it and if you have such a habit, you should eliminate it.

Control diabetes and cholesterol

Control diseases like diabetes and cholesterol through proper diet, exercise, and activity, and if there is a problem, take medicine and treat it quickly without worsening the disease.

Regular health check-ups

You should have your regular health check-ups with a qualified doctor from time to time, by doing blood tests to check liver function, diabetes, cholesterol and thyroid hormone levels, observing if any symptoms appear, and if necessary, by doing video X-rays so that the disease does not attack suddenly.

Finally, fatty liver is a serious chronic problem, but if it can be treated and prevented in time, it can be cured. Nowadays, the disease is spreading due to the changing lifestyle of people and unnatural diet.

In urban areas, the prevalence of this problem is increasing due to unhealthy lifestyles due to toxic foods, the influence of Western culture, excessive use of smoking and alcohol, lack of physical activity or leading a sedentary life.

Even in rural areas, this problem is increasing due to traditional behaviors, drinking alcohol, not getting health check-ups on time, and lack of public awareness about health.