6 WARNING SIGNS SHOW THAT YOUR LIVER IS FULL OF TOXINS, you MUST KNOW

 6 WARNING SIGNS SHOW THAT YOUR LIVER IS FULL OF TOXINS, you MUST  KNOW

Long-term heavy drinking can lead to fatty liver, an alcoholic liver disease. This disease eventually leads to scarring of liver tissue known as cirrhosis. Depending on the extent of scarring, liver function may decrease.

When you drink little or no alcohol, fat builds up in the liver. This is called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Severe forms of NAFLD can lead to liver cirrhosis.

NAFLD and alcoholic liver disease are grouped under the term fatty liver, but their causes and treatments are different. Read more about NAFLD through lifestyle changes.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: NAFL vs. NASH

There are two types of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Currently, researchers aren't sure why individuals evolve one way or the other. It can be diagnosed in one form and then another.

NAFL

If you are diagnosed with NAFL, you will have fat in your liver but little inflammation and no liver damage. Although this condition causes pain associated with an enlarged liver, it does not usually cause liver damage.

NASH

NASH is a more serious form of NAFLD. If you are diagnosed with NASH, you may have liver inflammation and even liver damage in addition to the fat. This damage causes scarring of the liver. Untreated NASH eventually leads to cirrhosis, which if left untreated can lead to liver cancer.

Symptoms of NAFLD

Many cases of NAFLD have no noticeable symptoms. Symptoms usually include:

pain in the upper right abdomen

tiredness/weakness

Lose weight

Fluid and swelling in the stomach (ascites) and legs (oedema).

Jaundice or yellowing of the skin or eyes

Causes of NAFLD

The exact cause of NAFLD is not well understood. Currently, researchers believe genes, certain health conditions, diet, and the digestive system play a role.

Some people diagnosed with NAFLD have no prior risk factors, but certain lifestyle factors increase the likelihood of a NAFLD diagnosis.

risk factors

One of the biggest risk factors for developing CHD is living with obesity.

Other risk factors include health problems that coexist with obesity, such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome (traits and conditions associated with living with obesity).

If you are diagnosed with more than one of these health problems, you are more likely to develop NAFLD.

Other risk factors are:

high triglyceride levels

high cholesterol

a diet high in fructose (a type of sugar)

Disruption of your microbiome (your gut)

How is NAFLD diagnosed?

NAFLD is often asymptomatic. The condition is usually diagnosed after a blood test shows liver enzyme levels higher than normal. A standard blood test can show this result.

High levels of liver enzymes can indicate other liver disorders. Your doctor must rule out other medical conditions before making a NAFLD diagnosis.

If NAFLD is suspected, your doctor may look for physical symptoms such as signs of insulin resistance (dark patches of skin on the knees, joints, and elbows) and cirrhosis (ascites and/or muscle wasting).

Additional exams

Liver ultrasound can help detect excess fat in the liver. Another type of ultrasound, called transient elastography, measures the stiffness of the liver. Greater stiffness indicates more scarring.

If these tests are inconclusive, your doctor may recommend a liver biopsy. In this test, the doctor takes a small sample of liver tissue with a needle in your abdomen. The sample is examined in the laboratory for signs of inflammation and scarring.

Although the side effects of NAFLD may go unnoticed if you experience pain, jaundice, or swelling on the right side of your abdomen, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Can non-alcoholic fatty liver lead to complications?

The main risk of NAFLD is cirrhosis, which limits your liver's ability to do its job. Once diagnosed, cirrhosis cannot be reversed, but there are treatment options to slow or stop it.

If cirrhosis isn't slowed or stopped, it can lead to liver failure, which means your liver stops working. This means you may need a liver transplant.

Liver cancer is another complication of untreated cirrhosis.

Management of NAFLD

There are no specific drugs