All About Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

People who don’t drink alcohol or drink very little could suffer from a range of liver problems, better-known as Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). This refers to the excess storage of fat in the liver cells.

NAFLD is the most common manifestation of chronic liver disease. People who develop NAFLD can also develop nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a stronger form of fatty liver disease. This is identified by liver inflammation and could develop as cirrhosis and, ultimately, liver failure. The damage, in this case, is just the same as that caused by a habit of excessive alcohol.

Causes

Both NAFLD and NASH are caused due to:

• Obesity
• Insulin resistance
• High blood sugar, indicative of Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
• High fat levels in the blood, particularly triglycerides

All these problems cause the fat to be deposited in the liver.

Symptoms

NAFLD does not cause any symptoms usually. However, whenever it does, it includes:

• Pain in the upper right part of the stomach
• Fatigue

Symptoms of NASH and cirrhosis include:

• Abdominal swelling
• Enlarged blood vessels below the skin surface
• Red palms
• Enlarged spleen
• Jaundice

Diagnosis

Since NAFLD has no symptoms, diagnosis is done by taking a blood test to look for liver enzymes. If its levels are high, it could point to other liver diseases too. The doctor will also ask for a liver biopsy, an ultrasound of the liver and another kind of ultrasound, called the transient elastography, which measures the liver’s stiffness. Stiff livers point to cirrhosis.

Treatment

There is neither any specific procedure nor any medication to treat NAFLD. Your condition can improve, however, if you adopt the list given below of lifestyle changes.

• Weight loss
• Eating a nutritious diet of vegetables, fruits and whole grains
• Exercising for 30 minutes daily
• Controlling your blood glucose and cholesterol levels
• Avoiding alcohol

By following these changes, the condition of your liver can improve and stay normal for a long time. You may also be able to reverse any damage to the organ in the early stages of NAFLD. Regular blood tests should be done to know the condition of your liver.

Why Rela Hospital

Advantages/Expertise

At the Dr Rela Hospital, Chennai, we understand the severity of damage of NAFLD. That it can lead to cirrhosis is indeed disturbing. And since our medical experts are trained to provide the best treatment of NAFLD in Chennai, our medical centre is normally the one of choice for people diagnosed with NAFLD.

However, liver disease doesn’t stop there. There are other forms of liver disease that people develop for which liver transplantation in Chennai is usually the best solution. Our team of experienced and successful liver specialists are also the best liver specialists in Chennai. So, when you put yourself in our specialists’ hands, the outcome is generally good.

To know more about us and our prowess in liver disease, call us for an appointment on +91 9384681770