lovesouthernsocial.com

Fat in the liver can lead to cirrhosis

By James Heilman, MD is licensed under CC BY 3.0

Fats are not necessarily harmful to the human body, but excess fat in the body is the cause of many conditions and illnesses. Among them is hepatic steatosis, popularly called "fat in the liver".

What is liver steatosis

Fats in the liver, or hepatic steatosis, is a disorder characterized by the accumulation of fat in liver cells. This disorder is also called fatty infiltration of the liver or fatty liver disease, and is divided into two types: alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The first concerns the condition due to the abuse of alcohol consumption, while the second is the condition that occurs when there is no history of significant alcohol consumption.

Causes

Fat in the liver develops when the body creates too much fat or cannot metabolize it fast enough. Excess fat is stored in the liver (liver) cells where it accumulates. The most common causes of the presence of fats in the liver include:

• Obesity;
• Diabetes;
• genetic predisposition;
• Fast weight loss;
• Side effect of using medications such as aspirin, steroids, tamoxifen and tetracycline.

Symptoms

Normally, the presence of fats in the liver has no associated symptoms, but it may show signs of liver stress, such as yellow eyes and shedding of hair. Patients experience fatigue and abdominal discomfort. The liver may increase in size slightly and can be detected by a doctor during a physical examination. Symptoms appear when complications such as inflammation of the organ arise.

Diagnosis

In the early stages, it can be diagnosed through routine tests. In blood tests, it may show up as a higher-than-normal amount of enzymes in the liver, which prompts the doctor to order a new, more comprehensive test. On ultrasound, the fat appears on the image as a white area.

Treatment

Medication or procedures to treat fats in the liver vary, but it is a reversible condition. Treatment depends on the cause of the fat accumulation. These include limiting alcohol consumption, exercising, and eating a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole foods and less processed red meat. Seek medical help to find out what is the best treatment for you.

Prevention

The best way to prevent liver fat is to protect your liver and try to avoid its causes. For this, try to maintain a healthy diet, exercise, keep an eye on cholesterol and avoid drinking alcoholic beverages (if you drink, do it in moderation).

• Does altered cholesterol have symptoms? Know what it is and how to prevent it

In the case of alcohol consumption, although its rate varies according to the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) advises the consumption of up to two drinks per day - a glass of draft beer has 300 ml, a glass of wine has 100 ml and a glass of distillate has 30 ml.

Watch a video in Portuguese about the condition that leads to the presence of fats in the liver.

---