Many people don’t know they have a fatty liver, leading to its reputation as a “silent killer.” It usually causes no pain or other symptoms and is often not until the dis-ease has progressed to a more serious stage, that patients are alerted to the problem.
We are seeing more and more of this in our clinic on a daily basis - overloaded livers ranging from ages 8 through to 87, and those that have had the diagnosis as young as 17!
Along with leading to obesity, diabetes, some medications (corticosteroids, tamoxifen) and fad diets that offer high-fat regimens might worsen this increasingly common condition.
Patients can develop fat accumulation in the liver with or without inflammation and fibrosis (scarring). There are two different types of fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD), not associated with inflammation) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which is associated with liver inflammation and scarring and tends to be more serious with possibly leading to cirrhosis.
If signs and symptoms of liver dis-ease do occur, they may include things like:
. Skin and eyes that appear yellowish
. Pale coloured stool
. Sticky soft stool
. Chronic fatigue
. Nausea or vomiting
. Loss of appetite
. Abdominal pain and swelling
. Swelling in legs and ankles
. Hormonal imbalance
. Itchy skin
. Dark urine
. Bruising
If you have ever been told your test results are normal, and there is nothing wrong with you despite your symptoms, you may appreciate that we look at your health with an understanding in the shades of grey.
Allow your liver to shine!
Healthy Gut, Healthy Mind, Healthy Life