Liver Disease: Expert discusses risks and symptoms
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Non-alcoholic fatty (NAFLD) liver disease is an umbrella term for a variety of conditions triggered by the build-up of fat in your liver. This diagnosis affects around one in five Britons. However, this at-first, silent condition can hike your risk of conditions, ranging from cancer to heart disease.
As there’s plenty of damage fatty liver disease can cause, it’s important to be able to notice the signs.
NAFLD develops in four main stages. While most people will only ever develop the first stage, the disease can progress to cirrhosis in some cases.
Recognised as the “most severe stage”, cirrhosis occurs after years of inflammation.
During this stage, your liver can shrink and become scarred and lumpy, the NHS explains.
Sadly, this damage sustained by the liver is permanent and can even lead to liver failure.
However, this isn’t the only daunting outcome of cirrhosis as it can also trigger liver cancer.
This stage doesn’t happen without ringing alarm bells. According to the NHS, the symptoms of cirrhosis include:
- Jaundice
- Itchy skin
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, feet or tummy (oedema).
In case you’re not aware, jaundice details the yellowing of the skin and the whites of your eyes.
This warning sign is triggered by the build-up of bilirubin in the blood.
Bilirubin describes a yellowish substance, which is produced when red blood cells are broken down.
As cirrhosis is serious, it’s important to see your GP “urgently” or call 111 if you suffer from any of these symptoms.
Fortunately, it can take years for cirrhosis to develop. There are three other stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that precede it.
Although the very first stage called simple fatty liver (steatosis) doesn’t usually present symptoms, the later two stages do.
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis can cause these symptoms:
- Dull or aching pain in the top right of the tummy (over the lower right side of the ribs)
- Extreme tiredness
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weakness.
The NHS notes that it’s crucial to make lifestyle changes to prevent fatty liver disease from getting worse.
From losing weight to following a healthy diet, there’s plenty you can do to manage the condition.
Your diet should be balanced and contain plenty of fruits, vegetables, protein and carbohydrates. You should also ensure that it remains low in fat, sugar and salt.
And while the condition isn’t caused by alcohol, drinking can make it worse so it’s not advisable.
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