Around 100 million Americans have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which can lead to complications like cirrhosis (end-stage liver disease). At Digestive Disease Care’s New York offices in Babylon, Lake Success, East Setauket, Mineola, and Jericho in Long Island, and Forest Hills and Jamaica in Queens, the team of doctors diagnose fatty liver disease and provide treatments to help you manage your condition. Call Digestive Disease Care or schedule a consultation online today for expert fatty liver care.
Your liver naturally contains some fat. However, if more than 5-10% of your liver’s weight is fat, you have fatty liver disease. Clinically referred to as hepatic steatosis, fatty liver disease can cause damage, inflammation, and scarring, which can cause cirrhosis and liver failure when untreated.
Most people with fatty liver have no symptoms in the early stages. Some of the common symptoms and warning signs of fatty liver disease include:
The damaging effects of overconsumption of alcohol on your liver, including fatty liver, are well documented. However, you can develop fatty liver disease even if you don’t drink much alcohol.
Fatty liver disease develops if your liver either makes too much fat or if it doesn’t metabolize fat correctly. Both situations cause fat to accumulate in your liver. While drinking too much alcohol can cause fatty liver disease, other potential risk factors include:
Your risk of fatty liver disease increases if you lose weight rapidly. Infections like hepatitis C can also increase your risk of the condition.
In addition to providing a physical exam and blood tests, the doctors at Digestive Disease Care use FibroScan® to evaluate your liver. FibroScan is a newer type of ultrasound that assesses the elasticity and fat content of your liver. It’s a quick and painless in-office test that provides critical information about the state of your liver.
Currently, no medication exists to treat fatty liver disease. The team at Digestive Disease Care provides lifestyle advice to help reduce and control your condition as well as monitoring services.
Some of the lifestyle changes that may reverse fatty liver disease include:
You can also add 30 minutes of moderate exercise to your daily routine. Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight and helps your body process the sugars and fats you consume.
If you’re concerned about fatty liver disease, call Digestive Disease Care, or make an appointment online today.
