Liver health is paramount to a healthy body. The role of the liver is important in keeping the body clean by processing all waste products and other substances from the body. Affects the function of the organs of the body.
Cirrhosis and fatty liver are the main problems affecting the liver. Fatty liver is basically a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver. There are two types of fatty liver. Alcoholic fatty liver is caused by drinking alcohol. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is also common in obese and diabetic people.
Excessive alcohol consumption damages liver cells, which disrupts the immune system. Alcohol-induced liver disease is the first stage of fatty liver. This can later lead to problems such as cirrhosis of the liver. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms may not appear for years.
People who do not pay attention to their lifestyle and diet are more likely to develop fatty liver. It is estimated that 50% of people in this country have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, memory loss, vomiting, pain in the upper and lower abdomen, yellowing of the skin and eyes, itching, and swelling of the legs.
The best way to prevent fatty liver is to follow a good diet and exercise routine. If symptoms become apparent early on, you can easily fight off the disease with a few lifestyle changes. Early fatty liver was detected by laboratory tests such as liver biopsy. Today, however, it is possible to detect fatty liver using ultrasound scans, fiber scans, etc. These tests look at the hardness and fat content of the liver.
(Info: Dr. Priya Nair, Assoc. Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Amrita Hospital)
