Fatty Liver?

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What is meant by fatty Liver ? Is this a serious health condition ? Is this a reversible condition. ? Are there any good homeopathic remedies to cure this
Fatty liver




Definition

Fatty liver is the collection of excessive amounts of triglycerides and other fats inside liver cells.

Description

Also called steatosis, fatty liver can be a temporary or long-term condition, which is not harmful itself, but may indicate some other type of problem. Left untreated, it can contribute to other illnesses. It is usually reversible once the cause of the problem is diagnosed and corrected. The liver is the organ responsible for changing fats eaten in the diet to types of fat that can be stored and used by the body. Triglycerides are one of the forms of fat stored by the body and used for energy and new cell formation. The break down of fats in the liver can be disrupted by alcoholism, malnutrition, pregnancy, or poisoning. In fatty liver, large droplets of fat, containing mostly triglycerides, collect within cells of the liver. The condition is generally not painful and may go unnoticed for a long period of time. In severe cases, the liver can increase to over three times its normal size and may be painful and tender.

Causes and symptoms

The most common cause of fatty liver in the United States is alcoholism. In alcoholic fatty liver, over consumption of alcohol changes the way that the liver breaks down and stores fats. Often, people with chronic alcoholism also suffer from malnutrition by eating irregularly and not consuming a balanced diet. Conditions that can also cause fatty liver are other forms of malnutrition (especially when there is not enough protein in the diet), obesity, diabetes mellitus, and Reye's syndrome in children. Pregnancy can cause a rare, but serious form of fatty liver that starts late in pregnancy and may be associated with jaundice and liver failure. Some drug overdoses or toxic chemical poisonings, such as carbon tetrachloride, can also cause fatty liver.

Often, there are no symptoms associated with fatty liver. If there are symptoms, they can include pain under the rib cage on the right side of the body, swelling of the abdomen, jaundice, and fever. Symptoms that occur less often in alcoholic fatty liver, but more often in pregnancy related fatty liver, are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain.

Diagnosis

During a physical examination, a doctor might notice that the liver is enlarged and tender when the abdomen is palpated (examined with the tips of the fingers while the patient lies flat). Blood tests may be used to determine if the liver is functioning properly. A liver biopsy, where a small sample of liver tissue is removed with a long needle or though a very small incision, can be used to confirm fatty liver. In pregnant women, the fatty liver condition is usually associated with another serious complication, pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. In this condition, the mother has seriously high blood pressure, swelling, and possibly, seizures. Laboratory abnormalities include elevations of the SGOT (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase) and SGPT (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase). In many cases the alkaline phosphatase will be significantly elevated due to cholestasis produced by the fatty infiltration.

Treatment

Treatment involves correcting the condition that caused fatty liver and providing supportive care. In fatty liver caused by alcoholism, the treatment is to give up drinking alcohol and to eat a healthy, well balanced diet. In fatty liver associated with pregnancy, the recommended treatment is to deliver the baby, if the pregnancy is far enough along. Vitamin and mineral supplements along with nutritional support may be useful.

Prognosis

Fatty liver is usually reversible if recognized and treated. There may be some long-term tendency toward other types of liver problems depending on how long and how severe the fatty liver condition was. In pregnant women with the condition, the situation can be life threatening for both the mother and the infant. Left untreated, there is a high risk of death for both the mother and baby. Severe liver damage that may require a liver transplant can occur in the mother if the condition is not recognized early.

Prevention

Prevention consists of maintaining a well balanced diet and healthy lifestyle with moderate or no alcohol consumption. Pregnant women require good prenatal care so that symptoms can be recognized and treated as early as possible. To prevent Reye's syndrome, children should not be given aspirin to treat symptoms of the flu or other viruses.  (+ info)

Fatty liver?

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My healthy 23 year old son recently just went for a physical. He was having no problems. The doctor said his liver appeared enlarged and sent him for some blood work and an ultrasound. The doctor has now said that the ultrasound appeared normal and found nothing in the blood work, but want my son to have more blood work drawn to check his iron and saying may be a "fatty liver." My son does not drink and is not on any medications that might cause a fatty liver. He is about 6'tall and weighs about 220 so is slightly overweight. Does anyone have any ideas of what the doctor might be looking for and what could have cause the fatty liver? he used to take supplements like creatin several years ago when he was buff and went to the gym. Could that be related?
Fatty liver is caused because too much fat is being kept in the liver. It is not related to alcohol use, but to overweight and high cholesterol. Your son you say, is overweight.

A sonography of a fatty liver looks only "shinier" than the one of a normal liver, and usually is not bigger than a normal liver. It has no masses or irregularities. Radiologists and Gastroenterologists usually know how shiny a liver should look on a sonography and can suspect of that problem.  (+ info)

fatty liver?

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I can't find any info. on fatty liver prior to pregnancy...only due to pregnancy in the last trimester.
Anyone know of any information sites that talk about the effects on a fatty liver(already diagnosed) related to becoming pregnant??
Here is a link for you:
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/Nonalcoholic-Steatohepatitis-NASH-Overview

I believe this is what you are talking about.

I hope this helps.  (+ info)

What does the term fatty infiltrated liver mean on a medical report?

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I saw the term recently on a medical report that I received and it said fatty infiltrated liver. Does anyone know what this means? It is an old medical report of mine but I would like to know what it means as it has never been mentioned to me.
Fatty liver (steatosis) is usually related to diabetes and obesity. This is usually not life threatening. Losing weight and controlling you diabetes will help. Fatty liver with "inflammation" may lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or potentially liver cancer. Go to your doctor and get a LFT (liver function test). The word infiltrated means that fatty cells has developed in the liver. My mother has been diagnosed with this condition for over 15 years and she is doing fine. Still, getting an LFT is a good idea.  (+ info)

What precaution can be taken to get rid of fatty liver and how long does it take to recover?

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What precaution can be taken to get rid of fatty liver and how long does it take to recover?
Hi vrd_quest

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a lifestyle condition related to The Metabolic Syndrome and type 2 diabetes. More movement and improved nutrition can help. Above all, stop consuming products containing high fructose corn syrup. HFCS has been connected to fatty liver and kidney disease.

Increase the green leafy vegetables, eat moderate amounts of lean meats, eliminate sweeteners and start exercising. It's not only the amount of food you eat, but the type and quality as well. Fill up on salad greens and vegetables before you eat anything starchy. Drink only water to satisfy thirst and eat only when you're hungry.

This plan helps improve what you eat without having to count calories or measure anything. A diet that's easier to follow is a diet you'll stay on longer.

Besides diet and exercise, a multivitamin plus extra C, E, D and fish oil might help because of the association of fatty liver with inflammation and oxidation. A phospholipid called lecithin, or phosphatidylcholine, has been shown to improve fatty liver and prevent gallstones. Also, certain herbs, such as milkthistle, dandelion, and artichoke leaves, are known to have a protective effect on the liver.

Fatty liver may also be aided by supplementing the diet with bile salts and pancreatic enzymes for help digesting fats.

Finally, consider having your storage iron (ferritin) checked. There is some association between iron overload and NAFLD. Without treatment this can lead to organ failure.

I hope this helps some!  (+ info)

Is it dangerous to become pregnant if you have fatty liver disease?

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I have been told that I have fatty liver disease. Is it ok for me to try to get pregnant or would it be dangerous for me? If you have any experience with this, please let me know. I would love some advice. Thank you so much!
Since you don't know if people on here are knowledgeable or credible on here I highly suggest you talk to a doctor. That is the only person that would be qualified to tell you for sure. It may not be a black or white issue either. There may be degrees of this disease and it may depend more on your specific circumstances.  (+ info)

Does anyone else have fatty liver and have a terrible time to lose weight?

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I have fatty liver and my doc tells me I need to lose weight. I want to but the problem is I have tried everything and nothing works! What can I do to help? Please only serious answers. I have enough bull shit to deal with already! To those of you with advice, thank you.
try the Lil Jack workout http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKCGe2Ezris you can lose wieght fast  (+ info)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a fatty liver ?

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During my master health check up it has been ascertained that I have a fatty liver, but the doctor did not pay much heed about it.
Fat inside the liver can cause pressure.
The liver is surrounded by a membrane capsule.

There are Different causes of fatty liver:
alcohol consumption, some types of medications
like steriods, diabetes, insulin resistance,
weight gain, high cholesterol/triglyceride,
pregnancy, metabolic disorders and others.

It would be best to be with a gastroenterologist
now. You would be informed of what to do
depending on the cause.
What is known as Simple fatty liver may not
cause you any problems. But if the fat causes
damage to the liver cells, then the immune
system of the body would respond to this
damage and cause inflammation inside the
liver. The liver would then enlarge in size.
This is known as Steatohepatitis.
Steato stands for fat, hepat stands for liver,
and itis stands for inflammation.

If the cause cannot be reversed, then the
inflammation can proceed to where the
liver cells start to die off...This is known
as Cirrhosis and it is not reversible.
When the cells die, it forms scar tissue
in the liver that blocks the flow of blood.

Here are some links about fatty liver
disease, that you can click on:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20060601/1961.html
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/fatty-liver.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_liver

Hope this has helped you. Best wishes  (+ info)

How much alcohol does it take to cause fatty liver disease?

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I'm wondering how long you have to use/abuse alcohol before putting yourself at risk for fatty liver. Would college binge drinking be enough to cause it?

By college binge drinking, i mean 5-7 drinks each night, 2-3 nights per week, totaling around 15-20 drinks per week during the last 2 years and around half that amount during the first 2.

I have been out of college for about 6 months now, and cut down my drinking to what it was during my first 2 years of college.
Fatty liver from alcohol consumption is called steatohepatitis, and involves an inflammatory process along with fat infiltration of the cells. It is not common to see it in one with your limited history of consumption, but can happen. It typically occurs after years of malnourishment and excessive alcohol consumption. It also occurs in some metabolic syndromes. Simple steatosis just involves fat accumulation in cells without inflammatory changes and can be present in anyone who is obese, and in most who drink heavily. It is completely reversible. It is not the same condition, but may preceed steatohepatitis. Fatty liver hepatitis (steatohepatitis) is considered serious and preceeds cirrhosis, which involves irreversible fibrosis of liver tissue.
You would still be considered a moderate to heavy drinker at your current rate of consumption.  (+ info)

I have a fatty liver, is it possible to cure it without taking medicines?

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I also have a high cholesterol and sgpt level but negative on my hepatitis test, is apple cider vinegar can cure fatty liver?
I would be very careful now that you have high
elevated liver enzyme scores. People don't
realize how fast cures and overdosing on anyone
thing can actually harm the liver instead of helping it. Most liver patients are told never to
take any medication without speaking with their
doctor first about it, this includes herbs,
over the counter and prescription drugs and
street drugs. The liver can also be affected
if you are in contact with certain chemicals,
or develop a virus, etc. Anything taken as
an overdose is especially harmful.

There are two types of fatty livers, one that
is because of alcohol intake and the other one
that is not. This article has on here what you
can do to reverse this problem before it turns
into something more serious that can never
be reversed.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/DS00577/DSECTION=8

It is best to stick with good medical sites in
order to find the information the doctor uses
and the Mayo clinic is one of them.

Here is another good site that will show you
what will happen if the disease progresses and
more information about what can be done.
This is a government site:
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/nash/

This site contains the same information as
those above, except it shows you what a
normal liver looks like and what a fatty liver
looks like and is written by a doctor.
http://www.gihealth.com/newsletter/previous/034.html

I hope this is of some help to you.  (+ info)

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