Fatty liver disease, as the name implies, is the accumulation of fat in the liver. But what happens if you have this condition and what are the risk factors for developing Fatty Liver Disease?
Medically reviewed by Mia Dacumos, MD · Nephrology · Makati Medical Center
Fatty liver disease, as the name implies, is the accumulation of fat in the liver. But what happens if you have this condition and what are the risk factors for developing Fatty Liver Disease?
Two primary types of fatty liver disease have been observed: one that is associated with excessive ingestion of alcoholic beverages (Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) and one that is not (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease).
Fatty liver disease may be asymptomatic, depending on the cause and severity of the disease, which will eventually lead to inflammation and damage of the hepatic cells.
As of 2018, the global prevalence of non-alcoholic liver disease is 25%. Non-alcoholic liver disease is slowly becoming the leading cause of cirrhosis requiring liver transplantation. The incidence of non-alcoholic liver disease is also steadily rising, which may be associated with the increased prevalence of associated/predisposing conditions such as
As for alcoholic liver disease, an accurate metric as to its incidence and prevalence is difficult to estimate, since many cases are asymptomatic.
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The difference between alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease can be seen in its risks, presentation, pathophysiology, and outcomes.
Liver cirrhosis is one of the most dreaded effects. In this condition, chronic damage to the liver eventually leads to the formation of fibrous bands of tissue due to regeneration of liver tissue. The treatment for patients with severe liver cirrhosis is liver transplantation.
Many risk factors can be attributed to the development of fatty liver disease. For alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic and/or copious alcohol consumption eventually leads to the development of the disease. However, there are controllable and uncontrollable risk factors that we can account for when discussing the development of fatty liver disease, these are:
The likelihood of developing Fatty Liver Disease can be lowered with
Note: It has not been fully proven that Metformin can decrease risk of liver disease. Seek the guidance of your doctor to control risk factors that may contribute to the development of the disease.
Fatty Liver Disease is a serious medical condition that usually is asymptomatic until the patient has developed severe liver damage in the form of hepatic steatosis or liver cirrhosis.
Many risk factors, most of which are related to lifestyle, lead to the development of Fatty Liver Disease. Poor health decisions that lead to the development of obesity and eventually hypertension, diabetes, and increased visceral adiposity, predisposes the patient to the development of the disease.
Lifestyle modification through diet, exercise, abstaining from alcohol, and vaccination play a role in decreasing the risk factors for developing Fatty Liver Disease.
Learn more about Digestive Health here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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