Fatty liver disease: How to identify if you have fatty liver?

Fatty liver disease or steatosis is a condition where there is fat build up in the liver. It can either happen with alcohol consumption which is known as alcoholic fatty liver disease or else due to being overweight which is then known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Abdominal pain in fatty liver feels like fullness or an obstruction towards the upper right side of the stomach.

Nausea, vomiting and feeling sick are typical signs of fatty liver disease.

The patient constantly feels sick due to the abdominal pain and also due to loss of appetite at times.

Extreme weakness and fatigue also makes a person nauseous.

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Loss of appetite is yet another sign of fatty liver which overlaps with many other health complications, but significantly contributes in making the person weak.

Due to this, there is a drastic weight loss in the person which again results in extreme fatigue.

Unexplained drop in weight and loss of appetite should not be ignored.

• The other common signs of fatty liver are:
  
  Difficulty in thinking or confusion
  Bruising or bleeding easily
  Yellowish skin
  

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A person is at an increased risk of fatty liver when he/ she is obese, has type 2 diabetes, is resistant to insulin, has thyroid issues, has high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking alcohol also puts one at risk of developing fatty liver conditions.

Age is also a risk factor. When you cross 50 years of age, you get more susceptible to fatty liver.

A healthy lifestyle can help you manage fatty liver disease. The body weight should be kept under control to prevent fatty liver.

One should always have seasonal food in the diet and avoid having processed foods.

Physical activity is key to a healthy body. Minimum 150 minutes of physical activity is essential for the human body to remain fit.

Alcohol consumption and smoking should be cut down.

Doctors diagnose fatty liver by studying your family medical history, your lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking habits, any existing medical condition, medications you are currently being administered and other health complications you might be having.

One of the misleading information about fatty liver disease is that it is only caused by alcohol. The fact is there are two types of fatty liver disease: alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Therefore being a non-alcoholic does not save you from the disease if you have an unhealthy lifestyle.

Another big myth is that fatty liver disease is mild and is a no big deal. No disease is mild in nature. If left untreated, fatty liver can cause irreversible damage.

People also believe that fatty liver disease only happens to adults, however the fact is it affects young and old alike.

Do not ignore the symptoms of fatty liver. Common symptoms like abdominal pain and fatigue which overlap with several other health complications as well should be tested well in advance.

Since obesity is a risk factor one should have a diet and weight program.

Fatty liver can be managed with early medical help.