FATTY LIVER

Fatty liver disease is a common condition caused by the storage of extra fat in the liver. Most people have no symptoms, and it doesn’t cause serious problems for them. In some cases, though, it can lead to liver damage. The good news is you can often prevent or even reverse fatty liver disease with lifestyle changes.
Also called: hepatic steatosis
An increased build-up of fat in the liver.
Major risk factors include obesity and type 2 diabetes, though it's also associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
FUNCTION OF LIVER:- 
Your liver is an essential organ with multiple life-supporting functions. The liver:

• Produces bile, which helps with digestion.

• Makes proteins for the body.

• Stores iron.

• Converts nutrients into energy.

• Creates substances that help your blood clot (stick together to heal wounds).

• Helps you resist infections by making immune factors and removing bacteria and toxins (substances that can harm your body) from your blood.

STAGES OF FATTY LIVER:- 
In most cases, fatty liver disease doesn’t cause any serious problems or prevent your liver from functioning normally. But for 7% to 30% of people with the condition, fatty liver disease gets worse over time. It progresses through three stages:
Your liver becomes inflamed (swollen), which damages its tissue. This stage is called steatohepatitis.
Scar tissue forms where your liver is damaged. This process is called fibrosis.
Extensive scar tissue replaces healthy tissue. At this point, you have cirrhosis of the liver.
Cirrhosis of the liver is a result of severe damage to the liver. The hard scar tissue that replaces healthy liver tissue slows down the liver’s functioning. Eventually, it can block liver function entirely. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
TYPES OF FATTY LIVER:- 
       There are two types of fatty liver:-
1. Alcohol-induced fatty liver disease:-
Alcohol-induced fatty liver disease is caused by regular alcohol consumption.
2. Non-alcohol related fatty liver disease:- obesity and diabetes, can increase your risk.
CAUSES:- 

1. overweight/obesity.

1. Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance. 

1. metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels).

1. Taking certain prescription medications, such as amiodarone (Cordarone®), diltiazem (Cardizem®), tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) or steroids.

1. Drinking too much alcohol

1. having high blood cholesterol or high triglycerides

SYMPTOMS:- 

1. Abdominal pain or a feeling of fullness in the upper right side of the abdomen (belly).

1. Nausea, loss of appetite or weight loss.

1. Yellowish skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).

1. Swollen abdomen and legs (edema).

1. Extreme tiredness or mental confusion.

1. Weakness

SIGN:- 
Signs that you may have more serious fatty liver disease include:

1. yellow eyes and skin (jaundice)

1. bruising.

1. dark urine.

1. swollen tummy.

1. vomiting blood.

1. black stools (poos)

1. itchy skin.

DIAGNOSIS:- 

• Ultrasound or computed tomography (CT scan) to get a picture of the liver.

• Liver biopsy (tissue sample) to determine how far advanced liver disease has progressed.

• FibroScan®, a specialized ultrasound sometimes used instead of a liver biopsy to find out the amount of fat and scar tissue in the liver.

TREATMENT:- 
          There’s no medication specifically for fatty liver disease.

• Avoiding alcohol.

• Losing weight.

• Taking medications to manage diabetes, cholesterol and triglycerides (fat in the blood).

• Taking vitamin E and thiazolidinediones.

PREVENTION:- 

• Stay at a healthy weight. If you have overweight/obesity, lose weight gradually.

• Exercise regularly.

• Limit your alcohol consumption.

• Take medications as prescribed.

Can fatty liver disease be reversed?
=)The liver has an amazing ability to repair itself. If you avoid alcohol or lose weight, it’s possible to reduce liver fat and inflammation and reverse early liver damage.
Will fatty liver disease kill you?
=)Fatty liver disease doesn’t cause major problems for most people. However, it can turn into a more serious problem if it progresses into cirrhosis of the liver. Untreated cirrhosis of the liver eventually leads to liver failure or liver cancer. Your liver is an organ you can’t live without.