Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NFALD) is quickly becoming one of the most common conditions worldwide. It is a silent disease because most individuals don’t even realise they have it until it has progressed. It is a modern health concern linked closely to diet, inactivity and metabolic disorders.
What exactly is NAFLD?
It is a condition where fat builds up in your liver because of weight gain, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and elevated cholesterol. This leads to inflammation and damage of the liver over time, later progressing to cirrhosis, fibrosis and even cancer.
Stages of NAFLD:
| Stage | What it means |
|---|---|
| Stage 1. fatty liver | There is build up of fat but no damage to liver |
| Stage 2. NASH | |
| Non Alcoholic | |
| Steatohepatitis | Build up of fat has caused inflammation in the liver, cells |
| start to show sigs of injury but damage is still not too extensive | |
| Stage 3. Fibrosis | Scarring of the liver due to excess inflammation |
| affecting it’s structure. Functioning still occurs, but declined efficiency | |
| Stage 4. Cirrhosis | Severe deformation, functioning of the liver impaired and |
| symptoms start to appear like acites and jaundice, |
Who is at risk?
you are more likely to develop NAFLD if you are:
- are overweight or have high percentage of visceral fat
- are over 50yrs
- have high BP and cholesterol
- have type 2 diabetes
- have PCOD
Symptoms and Diagnosis:
- fatigue
- weakness
- weightloss
- pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
- jaundice
- acites
- muscle wasting
- mental confusion
Diagnostic scans:
- Imaging: CT, MRI, Ultrasound
- Blood tests: liver function tests
- Liver biopsy
Can it be reversed?
In many cases it is reversed with lifestyle changes depending on the severity.
changes include:
- weight loss
- balanced diet
- regular physical activity
- control blood sugar and cholesterol
- regular exercise
MBH/PS