Written By: Debjani Arora | Published : August 1, 2018 6:05 PM IST
Tips to tackle cirrhosis of liver. © Shutterstock
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD is a condition where fat accumulates in the liver. People suffering from NAFLD are at an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, obesity etc. In NAFLD the arteries of the liver get clogged due to fat deposits and cholesterol build-up (as it happens in the heart) this causes scarring of healthy liver tissue.
A condition like NAFLD if detected early can be reversible, however when ignored it could lead to complications that could be life-threatening. We spoke to Dr Prasanna S Shah Interventional Gastroenterologist Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai to know the consequences of NAFLD. "Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common disorder and refers to a group of conditions where there is an accumulation of excess fat in the liver. This condition is more common in people who are alcoholic; however, even non-alcoholic people can suffer from NAFLD. The most common form of NAFLD is a non-serious condition called fatty liver," he says.
NAFLD and NASH
In fatty liver, fat accumulates in the liver cells. "Although having fat in the liver is not normal, by itself it probably does not damage the liver. When steps are not taken to correct this condition accumulation of fat increases and then it can lead to a more serious condition named non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In NASH, fat accumulation is associated with liver cell inflammation and different degrees of scarring," says Dr Shah. Once the scarring happens it becomes difficult to treat or reverse the problem.
"NASH is a potentially serious condition that may lead to severe liver scarring and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver sustains substantial damage, and the liver cells are gradually replaced by scar tissue, which results in the inability of the liver to work properly. Some patients who develop cirrhosis may eventually require a liver transplant (surgery to remove the damaged liver and replace it with a new liver). The liver is an organ that processes the food we eat, stores energy and provides the body with a healthy immune system," says Dr Shah, a reason why you need to pay attention to your liver health too.
How to prevent NAFLD to progress to NASH
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease usually has no signs and symptoms. When it does, they may include an enlarged liver, fatigue, discomfort in the upper right abdomen. But these are so trivial that people don't pay much attention to it.
In fact, there are few risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are both linked to the following:
These combined health problems appear to promote the deposition of fat in the liver. For some people, this excess fat acts as a toxin to liver scarring the liver tissues and leading to fibrosis. Some people with excessive fibrosis progress to cirrhosis.
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