A Silent Killer of Americans? Fatty Liver

by Kathleen Tormey

Fatty Liver disease, also known as "Alcoholic, Non Alcoholic, and Metabolic Disfunction- Associated Steatotic Liver Disease" is a condition when excess fat builds up in the liver. Often, there are no or few symptoms other than general tiredness and/or pain in the upper right hand side of the abdomen.

Gone undiagnosed, complications may include certain metabolic disorders such as Diabetes, Heart disease, Cirrhosis, Liver Cancer, and death.

Why is it a silent killer? Because the annual blood test given at your doctor's office rarely shows an abnormality until you reached an advanced stage.

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver is on the rise, effecting more women then men. The the main cause is no longer alcohol, but too much sugar in the diet. It doesn't happen over night. This is a progressive disease.

Sadly, most cases are now lifestyle related. We are seeing fatty liver in 11 and 12 year old children due to soda consumption.

See below for the more common Causes, Signs and Symptoms.

Causes:

High sugar diet (High fructose corn syrup sweetener)

Eating more packaged, frozen, canned, boxed, processed foods than whole foods, which contain hidden sugars.

White foods such as pasta, rice, bread

Being Overweight

Low activity level

Over 50 years of age

Drinking alcohol

Environmental exposure to toxins (a lifetime of exposure - that may have started in Utero).

Hepatitis B

Auto Immune disease (genetic proclivity)

Signs and Symptoms:

Increased fat around the mid section

Issues with inflammation

Itchy skin/Skin rashes

Gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, gas, and constipation

general malaise

pain in upper right hand corner of abdomen

unexplained cramping in muscles

yellowish tint to the whites of the eyes (advanced stage)

pain/soreness in mid back

sudden lose of weight

loss of appetite

difficulty with digestion

If you have any of these symptoms or risk factors, its important to discuss with your doctor and push for an abdominal ultrasound. Blood tests and liver panels may result in a normal reading while still having this disease until it reaches a more severe stage of fibrosis and scarring of the liver tissue.

The good news? Fatty Liver, when caught in its early stages, is reversible. The Liver is able to regenerate its cells. It's important to find the root cause and then create lifestyle changes in order to reverse this disease.

Stay tuned, as I continue a multipart series on the different types of fatty liver, how to change your lifestyle to reverse the condition, and what tests you should be asking for at your next annual appointment. I will also be adding a liver cleanse to my menu of services on my website.

Love and light,

Kathleen