The rate of fatty liver disease is increasing, especially in cases not related to alcohol. That makes many people worry about whether fatty liver is dangerous and how to treat it effectively.
Fatty liver is one of the most common chronic liver diseases worldwide, which can be alcohol-related or associated with non-alcoholic metabolic disorders. Normally, a healthy liver will contain little or no fat. However, when we drink too much alcohol or eat excess calories, the liver converts them into fat and stores them in liver cells. If the amount of fat (fat) accounts for more than 5% of the total weight of the liver, it is determined to have fatty liver disease. So, is fatty liver disease dangerous? How to manage and treat the disease effectively?
Classification of fatty liver disease
Based on the cause and related diseases, fatty liver is often divided into 2 main types:
- Alcohol-related fatty liver disease : This is a fatty liver condition that occurs as a result of drinking too much alcohol. Every time the liver has to “process” consumed alcohol, some liver cells will die, while creating many harmful substances. If you drink too much alcohol, the liver will not produce enough new cells, the “products” of alcohol breakdown promote inflammation, reducing liver function. At that time, fatty liver disease may appear, which is also the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease. Next, the disease will progress to alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis .
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (or fatty liver related to metabolic disorders): This fatty liver condition is not caused by drinking too much alcohol. Fat accumulation in the liver is related to cardiometabolic factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and lipid disorders. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can also progress to a more serious form called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Fat accumulation then develops into hepatitis and then tissue damage and scarring (fibrosis).
Additionally, some cases of fatty liver may stem from causes other than heavy alcohol consumption or cardiometabolic risk factors. For example, using certain medications or many other diseases can also cause fatty liver. Sometimes, doctors cannot determine the specific cause of the disease, called fatty liver of unknown cause.
Is fatty liver disease dangerous?
Is mild fatty liver dangerous? Fat buildup usually doesn’t cause serious problems at first or prevent the liver from working properly. However, when fatty liver progresses to liver disease, it can progress in stages as follows:
- Hepatitis : The liver turns from fatty to inflamed, swollen, and damages liver tissues. This is the stage of steatohepatitis.
- Fibrosis : Bands of scar tissue form in damaged inflamed tissue, causing that area of the liver to become stiffer. This process is called fibrosis.
- Cirrhosis : More scar tissue forms and spreads to replace healthy tissue. If left untreated, cirrhosis can lead to more dangerous problems such as liver failure and liver cancer. About 90% of people who develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have had cirrhosis.
Therefore, clearly identifying the cause, correctly diagnosing the stage of fatty liver and treating it early will make an important contribution to protecting the liver from further damage. Is grade 2 and grade 3 fatty liver dangerous? Fatty liver disease, whether at level 1, 2 or 3, can become dangerous if you do not monitor, manage and treat it well.
Is fatty liver disease dangerous? In the worst case, without treatment, the disease can progress to cirrhosis, leading to liver failure and liver cancer. Furthermore, people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease also have a higher risk of heart disease (such as heart attack, stroke).
Is fatty liver disease dangerous and how to treat it?
In fact, there is no specific treatment or medication for fatty liver disease. Instead, your doctor will guide you on how to manage and control the risk factors that can lead to this fatty condition, including making lifestyle changes.
You need to try to implement the following lifestyle change recommendations:
- Avoid drinking alcohol even if the illness is not caused by alcohol.
- Lose weight healthily by exercising, changing your diet (as recommended by a nutritionist) and taking medication as prescribed by your doctor.
- Build a healthy diet; limit salt and sugar; Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Use medications to control metabolic disorders as prescribed by your doctor, such as antidiabetic drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, etc.
- Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B because people with existing liver problems are especially at risk if infected with these viruses.
If fatty liver is caused by alcohol, the most important thing to do is quit drinking to prevent the development of more serious health problems.
Prognosis of fatty liver disease
Depending on the severity of the disease, the liver has a strong self-healing ability to remove accumulated fat and even some of the scars that form. If you follow your doctor’s treatment plan, fatty liver and inflammation can be reduced and prevent further damage. In some cases, newly developed liver damage will be reversed. Many people with fatty liver disease still have a normal lifespan.
In short, fatty liver is not a serious health problem unless it progresses to cirrhosis. If cirrhosis is not treated, it will eventually lead to liver failure or liver cancer. So, to answer the question “Is fatty liver dangerous?” This is a condition that has the potential to develop into many other serious diseases but is completely controllable and treatable. The “dangerous” level of the disease will depend on whether you pay attention and take good care of your health from early on.
