Do I need to worry about Fatty Liver?

Liver, the largest organ in our body, plays many roles in keeping the biochemical balance of our body intact. What does it mean to have a fatty liver? Fatty liver is a condition where fat cells get accumulated in the liver and hampers the normal functioning of the liver cells leading to disturbances in the body’s metabolism.

In the early stages many people with a fatty liver are not aware that they have a liver problem, as grade 1 fatty liver symptoms can be vague and non-specific. In some cases it is accidently detected during routine blood investigations or ultrasound scan done for some other complaint.

What does it mean to have a fatty liver?

The most common causes of fatty liver are incorrect diet (fasting or overeating), obesity, alcoholism, smoking, diabetes, increased cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. However other causes can be malnutrition, long standing viral hepatitis, metabolic disorders that are present since birth and excessive use of or toxicity of some medications and pain killers.
In fatty liver, normal healthy liver cells are partly replaced by fat cells. The fat starts invading the liver cells and gradually infiltrates the healthy liver tissues. Now liver tissues can’t function normally. This causes the liver to burn fat less efficiently resulting in weight gain, inability to lose weight and other symptoms due to decreased fat metabolism.

What are the symptoms of fatty liver?

In initial stages one may experience:

Easy tiredness
Poor weight control
Excess abdominal weight
Discomfort under the right rib cage
Elevated cholesterol
Poor immunity
Poor blood sugar control
Digestive problems such as reflux, bloating, indigestion, nausea, or vomiting

Fatty liver can be Grade I, Grade II and Grade III depending on fat accumulation in the liver.
With proper treatment and precautions Grade II and Grade I fatty liver symptoms can be managed very well.
But if left unattended and untreated the fatty changes in the liver may increase. The resulting inflammation and fibrous tissue build up may cause liver cirrhosis a more serious condition. Abnormal bleeding in the body, accumulation of fluid in abdominal cavity, jaundice or muscle wasting can occur in liver cirrhosis.
At its most severe, fatty liver disease can progress to liver failure, a life threatening condition.

Can Fatty Liver be reversed?

There is no standardized treatment for fatty liver. Treating the underlying cause can easily reverse the abnormal changes in the liver, provided, it is early in the disease.

How to get rid of Fatty Liver?

When you see that “fatty liver” diagnosis on your sonography report, see it as an alarming sign and start working on it. Timely investigations (liver profile, lipid profile, blood sugar levels) done along with proper treatment can help you to stop further progress of fatty liver.

Some common measures that improve fatty liver are:

Exercise and weight loss programs will help in control of further fatty changes.
Control cholesterol levels: A healthy approach to avoid consumption of saturated fats in diet can reverse fatty liver.
Control Diabetes: Effective management of sugar levels with life-style changes, medications and insulin can stop further advancement of fatty liver into something serious like cirrhosis or liver failure.
Avoid harmful substances: Certain drugs, alcohol, junk foods etc. are better avoided when once diagnosed with fatty liver. Talk to your doctor regarding alternatives for medications that can cause fatty liver.

Homeopathic treatment for Fatty Liver:

Homeopathic medicines improve the liver function by improving underlying disturbed metabolism. It reduces the symptoms as well as modifies the disease process. Homeopathic medicines when given at proper stage can stop the further progress of the disease.
A significant number of cases of fatty liver have been effectively treated at LifeForce with the help of research based medicines of Dr. Rajesh Shah. Liver functions and other metabolic parameters can be kept under control and eventually it can also prevent liver cirrhosis or liver failure.

To know more about how you can be helped with homeopathic treatment for your fatty liver leave us your contact details below. Alternately you can give us a call on +91-22-66888888 or write in to us at info@lifeforce.in

-Dr. Aparna Hingmire, Associate Doctor to Dr. Rajesh Shah, Team LifeForce