Fatty liver disease is a condition that can be caused by being overweight or obese. Here are five warning signs of fatty liver disease, according to a liver doctor
Our liver is a hardworking powerhouse, juggling more than 500 essential tasks within our bodies.
So it goes without saying that any troubles with this key organ could indicate serious trouble. Plenty of health issues can affect the liver, but fatty liver disease in the most common in the UK.
As its name implies, fatty liver disease is caused by a buildup of excess fat in the liver. The biggest risk for developing the disease is being overweight or obese – especially if the weight mainly accumulates around the waist.
With fat piling up, the liver gets irritated and inflamed, which might lead to scarring if given enough time. Fatty liver disease has a sneaky habit of creeping up sans symptoms at the outset, dodging detection, reports the Express.
However, if it is left untreated you might start to notice signs appearing. In the long term, untreated fatty liver disease can also have serious consequences including liver failure, cancer and even death.
Catching the whispers of warning early is the best shot at tackling the issue head-on. Bearing this in mind, one Harvard-educated liver specialist, known to TikTok-fame, laid down some of the hallmark hints of fatty liver disease to keep an eye out for.
In the US, Hepatologist Dr. Saurabh Sethi broadcasted this vital alert: “Five warning signs of fatty liver.”
These signs are:
- Abdominal discomfort in the upper right side
- Fatigue and weakness
- Weight loss or poor appetite
- Elevated liver enzymes (ALT and AST)
- Enlarged liver (in advanced stages).
The NHS describes the abdominal discomfort in more detail. This could be a “a dull or aching pain” in the “top right of the tummy (over the lower right side of the ribs)”.
Should your condition escalate to cirrhosis, additional symptoms may arise. If you’re spotting any signs of a fatty liver or have concerns about your weight, it’s time to speak with your GP.
If your condition becomes more advanced and reaches cirrhosis you might also experience:
- Jaundice
- Itchy skin
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, feet or stomach (oedema)
Dr Sethi’s guidance is particularly timely as the UK witnesses a worrying uptick in liver disease cases recently. Data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities paints a stark picture: hospital admissions for liver disease soared by 22 percent from 2021 to 2022, jumping from 67,458 to a staggering 82,290.
And the situation has worsened significantly over a decade, with a near 47 percent rise in admissions since 2012. Vanessa Hebditch, policy director at the British Liver Trust, said: “These figures once again demonstrate how action is needed. The British Liver Trust is calling for a prompt and comprehensive review of adult liver services to address the huge variation and inequalities in liver disease treatment outcomes and care.”
Highlighting the critical nature of the issue, she added: “The surge in hospital admissions emphasises the urgent need for immediate action to tackle the growing burden of liver disease on the NHS and society as a whole.”
