By Sanaz Majd, MD<\/p>\n
If your\u00a0doctor has diagnosed you with \u201cfatty liver,” you are definitely not alone. In fact, studies estimate that up to 46% of the U.S. population may have fatty liver, and this continues to rise as our obesity epidemic worsens. It is by far the most common medical condition of the liver in both men and women.<\/p>\n
You may have also heard the condition referred to as \u201cNonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease\u201d (NAFLD), but we use “fatty liver” for short.<\/span><\/p>\n Liver biopsies taken from patients diagnosed with fatty liver show fat droplets within the cells under the microscope; hence, the term \u201cfatty liver.\u201d But the condition does not necessarily correlate with body weight. Although patients who are overweight have a higher risk of fatty liver, not all patients with fatty liver may be overweight and not all overweight patients have fatty liver.<\/p>\n There is a spectrum of disease, with various stages of fatty liver ranging from a mild and potentially reversible process, to more advanced disease with inflammation and scarring of the liver. In order to further determine the severity of the damage caused by these fatty droplets in patients deemed higher risk, a liver biopsy may be performed.<\/p>\n Most patients do not require a liver biopsy, however. Most cases of fatty liver are reversible, but occasionally can inflame the liver, cause enlargement (termed \u201chepatomegaly\u201d), and even cirrhosis.\u00a0Therefore, it is a potentially serious medical condition, especially if left untreated.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, those with fatty liver may be unaware of it, as it often is silent and void of symptoms.\u00a0But patients who are most at risk for fatty liver are those with the following medical conditions:<\/span><\/p>\n Notice that many of the conditions on this list have a link to insulin-resistant states and\/or conditions associated with weight gain.<\/p>\n Because those with fatty liver are often asymptomatic, it is typically discovered incidentally after running routine blood work, such as those done as part of a physical exam. AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and\/or ALT (alanine aminotransferase) are the liver enzymes that are most involved.<\/p>\n Other conditions can cause elevated liver enzymes, as well, however:<\/span><\/p>\n So, as part of the detective work to discover the underlying cause for these elevations, your doctor may order further blood work and\/or an ultrasound of the liver. Fatty liver is often confirmed on ultrasound. CT scans may also incidentally show fatty liver, but ultrasounds are better at visualizing the liver (and without the\u00a0radiation exposure).<\/p>\n If fatty liver is detected early on in the process before it progresses, its progression can be prevented. Here are some tips on how to help reverse fatty liver in its earlier stages:<\/p>\n Lose weight:<\/b><\/span> This is arguably the most vital treatment goal in those with fatty liver, as weight loss has been shown to reverse the fatty infiltration of the liver. Set a goal of 1-2 pounds a week for an initial goal of 10% weight loss through both dietary modification and cardiovascular exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.<\/p>\n Optimize blood glucose control:<\/b><\/span> For diabetics, this is key.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lower cholesterol:<\/b> <\/span>This may include dietary modification and\/or lipid lowering therapy.<\/p>\n Prevent further liver damage:<\/b><\/span> <\/b><\/span>Ensure Hepatitis B & C immunizations are up to date and\/or there is immunity.<\/p>\n Please note that all content here is strictly for informational purposes only.\u00a0 This content does not substitute any medical advice, and does not replace any medical judgment or reasoning by your own personal doctor.\u00a0Please always seek a licensed physician in your area regarding all health-related questions and issues.<\/p>\n Sanaz Majd, MD, is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and host of the Majd MD YouTube channel, reviewing the most popular medical topics:\u00a0 <\/span>www.youtube.com\/MajdMD. You can also follow her on Facebook or Instagram:\u00a0 <\/span>@SMajdMD.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FATTY LIVER By Sanaz Majd, MD If your\u00a0doctor has diagnosed you with \u201cfatty liver,” you are definitely not alone. In fact, studies estimate that up to 46% of the U.S. population may have fatty liver, and this continues to rise as our obesity epidemic worsens. It is by far the most common medical condition of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"two_page_speed":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-sanaz-majd-md"],"yoast_head":"\nWho Is At Risk?<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
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How Is Fatty Liver Diagnosed?<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
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How Is Fatty Liver Treated?<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
Avoid alcohol.<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/h4>\n
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