What is Fatty Liver?

Fatty liver is the accumulation of more than normal fat in the liver due to alcohol or non-alcoholic reasons. It is predicted that fatty liver disease due to obesity will increasingly emerge as the most common cause of chronic liver diseases in the world and in our country. 

What Causes Fatty Liver?

Nowadays, obesity is a very serious problem and the rate of fatty deposits in the liver has increased. In addition to diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, fatty liver disease is also very common in overweight individuals. The severity of fatty liver is generally directly proportional to excess weight. Diabetes is one of the leading risk factors for fatty liver. Obesity and excess weight, especially around the belly, are also among the most important causes of fatty liver. Apart from these, alcohol is also responsible for serious fatty liver. With the increase in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes, fatty liver has become an important public health problem for our country. It is estimated that one in every three people in our country has fatty liver.

What are the Symptoms of Fatty Liver?

Unfortunately, obvious signs indicating that a person has fatty liver are not observed at the initial stage of the disease. The absence of symptoms in the early period also makes it difficult to detect. It is observed that obvious complaints increase as the disease progresses. 
Among the complaints stated in the early period; These  include a constant feeling of fatigue, a feeling of sluggishness and fullness, and pain or discomfort in the upper right area of the abdomen. 
More prominent complaints observed as the disease progresses are listed as follows: 
• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal swelling
•  Nausea
• Edema and swelling in the legs and feet
• Darker than normal urine
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes may be a sign of serious deterioration in liver function.
However, although rare, patients may feel fullness in the right upper quadrant and sometimes pain in the right upper quadrant due to stretching of the liver. As the table progresses, the findings become more evident in the stages where fibrosis and cirrhosis develop; In men, hair loss and some changes in the skin may occur. When the disease reaches a higher stage, ascites may develop due to accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity and changes in the skin and venous network.
 

Fatty Liver Stage 1 Symptoms

Stage 1 Simple Fat: 

This stage is characterized by slight fat accumulation in the liver. It usually does not cause symptoms and does not affect the general health of the patient. Liver cells are filled with fat droplets. But inflammation or damage is not obvious. This stage is the earliest stage of obesity seen in people who do not consume alcohol.

Fatty Liver Stage 2 Symptoms

Stage 2 (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis): 

Stage 2 is a more serious stage. In addition to fat accumulation in the liver, mild to moderate inflammation and cellular damage are also seen. Symptoms may include fatigue, abdominal pain, or weakness. As it progresses, the risk of liver damage increases.

Fatty Liver Stage 3 Symptoms

Stage 3: 

This stage is characterized by an increase in connective tissue called fibrosis in the liver. Changes occur in the structure of the liver and the damage is more evident at this stage. Liver functions may begin to be seriously affected. Symptoms of fatty liver stage 3 usually include symptoms such as increased fatigue, weight loss along with abdominal pain.

Fatty Liver Stage 4 Symptoms

Stage 4 (Cirrhosis): 

Cirrhosis, the most serious stage, is the result of advanced fatty tissue causing inflammation and hardening of the liver. Tissue integrity has been disrupted in a large part of the liver and normal functions have almost disappeared. Cirrhotic liver can lead to complications such as fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites). Progression of this stage may require liver transplantation.
However, these are the clinical stages of fatty liver. It is important not to confuse these with ultrasonographic staging. The stages of fatty tissue detected by ultrasound indicate the following:
Stage 1 steatosis: 1/3 of the liver cells are fatty
Stage 2 steatosis: About half of the liver cells are fatty
Stage 3 steatosis: 2/3 of the liver cells are fatty
If more fat is visible in the liver on ultrasound and if this fat continues for years, the risk of conversion to cirrhosis increases. 

How to Treat Fatty Liver?

The most important step in treatment is weight loss. As the belly circumference decreases, the severity of fatty liver begins to decrease. In this context, diet and exercise are indispensable for treatment. It has been shown that walking for 30-45 minutes every day is effective in controlling blood pressure, sugar and weight. However, continuity of diet and exercise is important. When done regularly and for a long time, fatness regresses. While improvement in liver enzymes responds faster to treatment, ultrasonic recovery is slower. Here too, one should not be impatient or hopeless. 
The effectiveness of some drug treatments and drugs to break insulin resistance has been proven in patients with high liver enzymes. 
Drug treatments and liver transplantation are used in patients with cirrhosis, and treatment methods such as liver transplantation, chemotherapy and embolization are used in patients with liver cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fatty Liver