This is known as alcoholic steatohepatitis. Otherwise, the condition is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. An inflamed liver may become scarred and hardened over time. This condition, called cirrhosis, is serious and often leads to liver failure. NASH is one of the top three leading causes of cirrhosis. Eating excess calories causes fat to build up in the liver. When the liver does not process and break down fats as it normally should, too much fat will accumulate.
People tend to develop fatty liver if they have certain other conditions, such as obesity, diabetes or high triglycerides. Alcohol abuse, rapid weight loss and malnutrition may also lead to fatty liver. However, some people develop fatty liver even if they have none of these conditions. Most, but not all fatty liver patients are middle-aged and overweight. The risk factors most commonly linked to fatty liver disease are:.
Many researchers now believe that metabolic syndrome — a cluster of disorders that increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke — plays an important role in the development of fatty liver. Signs and symptoms of metabolic syndrome include:. Of these, insulin resistance may be the most important trigger of NASH. It is unclear how a liver becomes fatty. The fat may come from other parts of your body, or your liver may absorb an increased amount of fat from your intestine.
Another possible explanation is that the liver loses its ability to change fat into a form that can be eliminated. A fatty liver produces no symptoms on its own, so people often learn about their fatty liver when they have medical tests for other reasons.
NASH can damage your liver for years or even decades without causing any symptoms. If the disease gets worse, you may experience fatigue, weight loss, abdominal discomfort, weakness and confusion.
If you develop severe cirrhosis and your liver stops working properly, you may need to be put on the waiting list for a liver transplant.
For adults, the average waiting time for a liver transplant is days for transplants from recently deceased donors. Or it may be possible to have a transplant using a section of liver removed from a living donor. As the liver can regenerate itself, both the transplanted section and the remaining section of the donor's liver are able to regrow to a normal size.
Find out more about liver transplants. NAFLD is not caused by alcohol, but drinking may make it worse. It's therefore advisable to cut down or stop drinking alcohol. Page last reviewed: 19 November Next review due: 19 November Depending on your situation, they may also recommend regular screenings for hepatitis C. Cirrhosis can also lead to liver failure. If you develop liver failure, you might need a liver transplant. Lifestyle changes are the first-line treatment for fatty liver disease.
Depending on your current condition and lifestyle habits, it might help to:. However, more research is needed. There are some health risks associated with consuming too much vitamin E. Always talk with your doctor before you try a new supplement or natural remedy. If you have fatty liver disease, your doctor might encourage you to adjust your diet to help treat the condition and lower your risk of complications.
Learn more about some of the other dietary changes that may help you manage fatty liver disease. Some general prevention tips include:. These changes may help prevent further liver damage and scarring from occurring. If you need help with not drinking alcohol, consider engaging in a detoxification program and counseling. When left untreated, fatty liver disease can progress to inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. If you develop cirrhosis, it also increases your risk of liver cancer and liver failure.
These complications can be life threatening. Generally speaking, the outlook for fatty liver disease is best when treatment begins in the early stages, before fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Fatty liver disease is when excess fat accumulates in the liver. This can happen due to heavy alcohol use. When early symptoms are present, they can be nonspecific and include things like upper right abdominal pain and fatigue. The primary treatment for fatty liver disease is to make lifestyle changes that promote liver health. What are the health effects of not drinking alcohol for one month?
A promising study that looks at what one month free of booze can do to your body. The liver produces and clears cholesterol in the body. Learn how liver damage can affect cholesterol and what treatments you can explore. This is a detailed article about alcohol and its health effects. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Open pop-up dialog box Close. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Compared with a normal liver left , a fatty liver right appears enlarged and discolored. The liver Open pop-up dialog box Close.
The liver The liver is your largest internal organ. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name. Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Normal liver vs. Esophageal varices Open pop-up dialog box Close. Esophageal varices Esophageal varices are enlarged veins in the esophagus. Liver cancer Open pop-up dialog box Close. Liver cancer Liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver.
Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Pandyarajan V, et al. Screening for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the primary care clinic. Accessed Aug.
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