The liver is the largest internal organ in humans. It regulates most chemical levels in the blood and helps to process nutrients from foods and drinks. The liver also excretes a product called bile which helps with digestion.
The liver can build up fat deposits, which is normal in small quantities. However, too much fat in the liver may lead to inflammation resulting in damage and scarring. Liver failure may happen when scarring is severe. Early treatments can help prevent serious complications, so consult your liver cancer surgeon in Singapore for prompt and personalised advice.
What is Fatty Liver Disease?
Fatty liver disease refers to the build-up of fats in the liver which can cause varying degrees of damage to the organ.
People who drink too much alcohol are more likely to develop the disease; and if so, it is called alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). However, fatty liver disease can also occur in people who drink little to no alcohol, and this will be known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease
Often, people with fatty liver show no noticeable symptoms, but some may experience tiredness or pain in the upper right side of the abdomen where the liver is.
Advanced cases of fatty liver disease can also develop complications such as liver scarring, also known as liver fibrosis. When liver fibrosis becomes severe, it becomes liver cirrhosis, which can cause symptoms including appetite loss, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, and more.
To prevent complications, make sure to visit the best liver clinic and seek medical attention from an accredited physician for better outcomes.
Causes and Risk Factors
When your body produces too much fat or is not efficiently metabolizing fats, fatty liver occurs. In cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the cause can be vague. Factors that may play a role include:
- obesity
- insulin resistance
- high cholesterol, especially triglycerides
- high blood sugar
- older age
- malnourishment
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- underactive thyroid
- underactive pituitary gland
- metabolic syndrome
Types of Fatty Liver Disease
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) The first stage of alcohol-related liver disease can be cured when you stop drinking alcohol. Its most severe form is alcoholic cirrhosis, the damage cannot be undone even with the best liver surgery. Some complications that may arise with AFLD include:
- permanent scarring of the liver
- loss of function
- bleeding in oesophageal varices
- high blood pressure in the liver blood vessels
- loss of brain function due to toxins build-up in the blood
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has two different types:
- Simple fatty liver – This means that your liver has fat with little to no inflammation or damage to the liver cells.
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) – This means that your liver has excess fat along with inflammation and different amounts of scarring. NASH can cause complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. At this point, one must get treated by an experienced liver cancer surgeon.