Definition and Causes
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common cause of chronic liver disease. It arises due to the deposition of fats in the main cells of the liver. The disease ranges from the fatty changes and inflammation in the liver to cirrhosis and fibrosis. Studies suggest that the simple fatty liver is not harmful but the disease can progress and lead to a chronic condition of the liver. The discovery of the existence of the disease is not easy but it may happen through raised liver enzymes. The disease is associated with obesity. Nonalcoholic liver disease is similar to liver disease but it occurs to people who do not take alcohol or those who take little alcohol.
Prevalence
There is no accurate data due to the lack of population based studies and reliable screening tools. NAFLD affects a large population size. The methods used to diagnose the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease do not agree. The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is due to many factors. The factors include genetic and environment. This makes it difficult to determine the prevalence. The available data shows that 25% of the obese people are at a risk of getting NAFLD. The data concludes that the disease is only present in one third of the U.S population. Obese people are on the rise United States. The disease is present in all the ethnic groups in America but the most affected are older men who are obese and suffer from diabetes. Hypertension also predisposes a person to NAFLD.
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology is the changes that come with a disease. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease results from two causes. The fatty liver occurs after deposits of fats in the liver and resistance of insulin. This is because of alterations in the way the liver secretes the fatty acids and uptake of materials. These changes lead to another problem that causes to the inflammation of the liver. Inflammation results from the oxidative stressors like the leptin and iron.
Signs and Symptoms
NAFLD detection in the human body is not easy but it has some symptoms that require medical attention. The symptoms include:
- General discomfort and uneasiness
- Fatigue
- Discomfort in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the disease occurs during elevated enzyme evaluation. This may be during routine checkups, monitoring of possible side effects of other drugs or for non-specific symptoms. The disease identification also happens during imaging of the liver that done for other reasons. Diagnosis also occurs on groups that are prone to this disease for example the obese and the elderly people aged above 45 years.
Treatment and Prevention
Treatment aims at improving steatosis and preventing the development of the fibrosis, which leads to cirrhosis and other complications. The treatment of NAFLD involves weight reduction. Obese people can reduce weight by involving themselves in exercises 3 to 5 times a week. This helps them to burn the excess fats that may accumulate in the liver. The use of insulin sensitizing agents also helps to reduce in the lowering of hepatic glucose production and promotes the uptake of glucose in muscles. Lipid lowering agents helps the body to control the amounts of fats. The use of antioxidants also reduces the stress and the progression of the disease. Therapeutic agents offer hepatocyte protection and improve the histologic features.
