Ask most people what the number one liver problem is, and they’ll probably tell you it’s “cirrhosis.” But cirrhosis is no longer the top liver-related disorder facing citizens of the United States and Canada.
The biggest threat to liver health in the beginning of the 21st century is obesity, which is a major contributor to a serious (but often silent) condition known as fatty liver disease.
Public health experts in Canada and the U.S. say that the obesity epidemic is now responsible for more liver problems than cirrhosis, which is usually caused by drinking too much. Statistically speaking, obesity affects more individuals than alcoholism (the main cause of cirrhosis). So more people are at risk for fatty liver disease.
A brief explanation of how the liver works is in order here. It will help you understand why fatty liver disease can be dangerous.
One of the major jobs performed by the liver is metabolizing fat from the food we eat. But when we eat too much or don’t exercise enough, large droplets of fat start to accumulate in the liver. As these fat droplets build up, the liver starts producing more enzymes, which can cause inflammation of liver tissue. The inflammation can cause scarring and cirrhosis, in which liver tissue hardens and liver function is reduced.
Therefore, fatty liver disease is exactly what the name implies. Your body produces more fat than it needs, and some of the excess fat starts accumulating in your liver.
Recent public health studies have estimated that one in five Americans probably has some degree of fatty liver disease (which also goes by the name of fatty liver syndrome). Sources at the Canadian Liver Foundation recently warned that fatty liver syndrome is now the fastest growing (and most common) liver problem in Canada.
Fatty liver disease doesn’t present symptoms in the early stages, so you often won’t realize you have it until a lot of damage to your liver has already been done. When symptoms finally start to appear, they might include the following:
- swelling in the abdominal area
- fever
- the skin becomes itchy
- you’ll feel some pain or discomfort on the right side of the abdomen
If you have any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about them as soon as you can. If fatty liver has developed, tests will show that your liver has become somewhat enlarged and liver enzymes have become higher than normal.
Even when symptoms aren’t present, it may be a good idea to run liver function tests if you’re overweight, eat a lot, and don’t exercise much.
Identifying the cause of your fatty liver disease will influence your treatment. Even though fatty liver disease is a long term threat, very little treatment may be needed if it is diagnosed early. If you can bring your weight down by getting some exercise and eating a healthier diet, it’s likely that your liver can return to normal. If you drink a lot of alcohol, it’s important to stop, or at least cut back significantly. If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important to watch your blood sugar levels closely.
If you want additional information on topics related to this article, click on Why Is Fatty Liver Disease Dangerous|What Is Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Disease and Liver Pain. Neal Kennedy is a retired TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He frequently contributes articles to Liver Health Articles, a resource website about liver health and digestive wellness.