A healthy liver has no fat or only a small amount of fat.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Fatty liver disease (fatty liver) are often asymptomatic in the early stages. However, some signs on the abdomen may indicate fatty liver disease.
Disease fatty liver is basically a condition in which there is a fat accumulation on the liver. In fact, under normal conditions, a healthy liver has no fat or only a small amount of fat.
In general, fatty liver disease can be divided into two major groups, namely alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. As the name implies, alcoholic fatty liver disease is caused by excessive alcohol consumption, while non alcoholic fatty liver disease can be caused by various factors other than alcohol consumption.
Of the two, the most common type is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). According to the Mayo Clinic, cases of NAFLD experienced a significant increase in various parts of the world, especially in western countries.
In the United States, for example, about a quarter of the population is affected by NAFLD. Meanwhile in the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) estimates that one in three people will develop NAFLD in the early stages.
Early-stage NAFLD is a condition where the amount of fat that accumulates in the liver is still small. The NHS reveals that most people will only develop fatty liver disease in its early stages. Most of them are not aware of this condition because fatty liver disease in its early stages does not cause symptoms.
“Early stage NAFLD usually causes no harm, but can progress to heart damage serious conditions, including cirrhosis, if the condition progresses to more severe cases,” the NHS said ExpressSaturday (11/6/2022).
The Cleveland Clinic said the same thing. According to the Cleveland Clinic, fatty liver disease in its early stages usually causes no symptoms and does not cause serious problems in sufferers.
However, fatty liver disease that has progressed further can cause some symptoms. The appearance of these symptoms should be watched out for and immediately consulted a doctor for further treatment.
Some of the symptoms of fatty liver that have developed further can be seen and felt in the abdominal area. One of them is a swollen abdomen also known as ascites. The appearance of these symptoms should immediately be checked by a doctor.
Another symptom that may appear in the abdominal area is discomfort. This discomfort will be felt in the upper right side of the abdomen where the liver is located.
Fatty liver disease can also cause several other symptoms. Some of them are jaundice or jaundice where the whites of the eyes and skin appear yellowish. This condition may be a little difficult to monitor in darker skinned individuals.
Other symptoms to watch out for are rashes that appear easily, dark urine, and vomiting blood. In addition, fatty liver disease can also encourage the occurrence of black stools such as asphalt and itchy skin.
Another condition that should be wary of related to fatty liver disease is encephalopathy. This condition can lead to confusion, forgetfulness, mood swings, or difficulty making judgments. Not infrequently, people with fatty liver disease can feel tired or have no energy.
The British Liver Trust warns that fatty liver disease also often does not cause specific symptoms, even though it has progressed to an advanced stage. Therefore, the British Liver Trust recommends that liver health checks be carried out regularly.
“Even if you are asymptomatic, if you are at risk or are concerned, ask your doctor for a screening test,” explains the British Liver Trust.
The earlier fatty liver disease is detected and treated, the better. This can help prevent the disease from getting worse. In addition, early treatment therapy can also help reduce fat accumulation in the liver.
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