Non-Alcoholic fatty Liver Disease Understanding the Importance of Liver functioning & Non-Alcoholic fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)


It ‘s a state which is marked by excessive fat stored in the liver. As per (NIDDK National Institute of diabetes and digestive and key diseases research work, it has been observed that around 40 to 80 percent of people who have type 2 diabetes and in 30 to 90 percent of people who are obese have been diagnosed with NAFLD.
Before understanding about NAFLD lets browse some facts about Liver and its major function.

Liver and it’s Functions

The liver is the largest organ of the human body, which is situated on the upper-right of the stomach, beneath the diaphragm. It weighs about 3 pounds, is reddish-brown in color and feels rubbery to the touch. Normally you can’t feel the liver, because it’s protected by the rib cage.
The liver has two large sections- the Right and the Left Lobe. The gallbladder sits under the liver, along with parts of the pancreas and intestines. The liver and these organs work together to digest, absorb, and process food.
  • The main function of the liver is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. The blood contains essential protein, fats, and minerals that have been absorbed from the food.
  • The liver secretes bile that ends up back in the intestines and helps in digestion of fatty acid. The bile is a yellowish fluid which helps in breaking up of fat and digesting it into the body.
  • The liver also makes proteins important for blood clotting and other functions. The proteins broken down from the food gets adsorbed over the blood cells and get accumulated anywhere in the body, where there is an injury or rupture or wherever clotting is required.
  • Liver also helps in the metabolism of cholesterol as it breaks it into smaller parts through intestinal colonic bacteria. The bile mainly helps in the synthesis of cholesterol.
  • The body produces a number of hormones at various times. The liver synthesizes the hormones and passes into the blood and particularly acts on the required organ of the body.
  • Apart from the synthesis of various compounds, the liver also stores glycogen, vitamins, and minerals which can be later used when there is a requirement in the body.

DYSFUNCTION OF LIVER AND RELATED DISORDERS:

A disease, as we all know, will never knock the door before it enters. So, one must be prepared for any disease that might affect you at any stage of life.
The liver is the major organ of the body and one must take the utmost care of it. If it fails to perform any of its major functions or hampers in any of its routine activities, it is considered to be a diseased liver or a liver with disorders. Let’s discuss some of the disorders of the liver.
Alcohol-related diseases: As the name suggests, it is caused by taking an excess of alcohol. The liver fails to metabolize alcoholic toxins and hepatic cells stop degenerating. This leads to slow damage to the liver.
Non-alcoholic fatty acid disease: it’s usually in people who are chronic diabetic or are over-weight.
Hepatitis: Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the liver. It’s usually the result of a viral infection or liver damage caused by drinking alcohol.
Primary biliary cirrhosis: It is an auto-immune disease wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks the bile duct leading to cirrhosis or damage of the hepatic cells.
You must be curious about the detailed information about each of the diseases. Though liver disorders have been broadly categorized into the above mentions sub-headings, we shall discuss NAFLD in detail.

NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD):

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the term for a range of conditions caused by a build-up of excessive fat in the liver. It’s usually seen in people who are overweight or obese. A healthy liver should contain little or no fat.
Early-stage NAFLD doesn’t usually cause any harm, but it can lead to serious liver damage, including cirrhosis if it gets worse.
Having high levels of fat in your liver is also associated with an increased risk of serious health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease. If you already have diabetes, NAFLD increases your chance of developing heart problems.
If detected and managed at an early stage, it’s possible to stop NAFLD getting worse and reduce the amount of fat in your liver.

SYMPTOMS OF NAFLD:

NAFLD usually does not shows any symptoms in the early stages, but you probably won’t know you have it unless it’s diagnosed during tests carried out for another reason.
Occasionally, people with NAFLD or an advanced stage of NAFLD may experience some of the following symptoms:
  • Dull or aching pain in the top right of the stomach (over the lower right side of the ribs)
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Appetite Loss
  • Frequent vomiting
  • Pale face and Yellowish urine
In case you face the above-mentioned symptoms, you must see an expert doctor. Usually these symptoms are shown in advanced stages, but still, there are number of chances when seeking the best advice can save you or your dear ones from the fatal disease.

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