Fatty Liver

Abdominal pain, yellowed skin, and nausea could be signs of fatty liver disease. At Platinum Digestive Health in Rancho Cucamonga, California, board-certified gastroenterologists Bhavesh Patel, MD, and Hussein Abidali, DO provide treatments for this condition to ease symptoms and reduce the chance of life-threatening problems. Schedule an appointment at Platinum Digestive Health by phone or request one online today.

What is a fatty liver?

Your liver is a vital organ that makes bile, aids in digestion, and makes proteins. It also stores iron, converts nutrients to energy, helps fight infections, and is vital for proper blood clotting.

Fatty liver disease is a condition caused by having excess fat build up in your liver. This can become a problem if your liver becomes 5-10% fat by weight, is inflamed, and has significant scar tissue. Severe liver damage, or cirrhosis, can also develop because of fatty liver disease. When left untreated, you may eventually experience liver failure or liver cancer.

What are the different forms of fatty liver disease?

Fatty liver disease comes in two main forms:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

This form of the disease isn’t caused by alcohol and affects one in three adults and one in 10 children. Obesity and diabetes can play a role in its development.

Alcohol-induced fatty liver disease

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to fatty liver disease and affects about 5% of people in the United States. It’s caused by regularly consuming alcohol. 

What are the symptoms of fatty liver?

The common symptoms of fatty liver disease include:

• Fatigue
• Mental confusion
• Weakness
• Yellowing skin
• Yellowed whites of the eyes
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Reduced appetite
• Unexplained weight loss 
• Abdominal and lower limb swelling

You may not have any symptoms until fatty liver disease progresses to a severe form.

What are the risk factors for fatty liver disease?

The causes and risk factors for developing fatty liver include:

• Going through menopause
• Obesity
• Excess belly fat
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Excessive alcohol consumption 
• Some medications

Adopting healthy habits is one of the best ways to minimize your risk of fatty liver.

How is fatty liver disease diagnosed?

Your Platinum Digestive Health provider diagnoses fatty liver disease after discussing your lifestyle, symptoms, and medical history. They also complete a physical exam and may order a blood test, ultrasound, CT scan, liver biopsy, or additional diagnostic testing.

How is fatty liver disease treated?

Based on the type of fatty liver disease you have and its severity, your Platinum Digestive Health specialist may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Losing weight
• Avoiding alcohol
• Making dietary changes
• Properly managing a chronic disease
• Taking dietary supplements
• Getting regular exercise
• Taking medicines as directed
• Altering your medication regimen

Making healthy lifestyle changes may reduce liver fat and reverse early signs of liver damage. Your Platinum Digestive Health provider follows up with you as needed to maximize your health and well-being.

Schedule an evaluation at Platinum Digestive Health by phone or request one online today to determine if you have fatty liver disease.