The liver is an organ that affects many organs in the body and allows the processing of ingested food. Fatty liver is a disease resulting from the accumulation of excessive fat in liver cells. The increase in fat in liver cells leads to the liver tissue being surrounded by fat cells. In the long run, liver function deteriorations occur.
What Causes Fatty Liver?
Obesity is the leading cause of fatty liver. Excessive alcohol consumption, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, and the long-term use of certain medications are among the causes of fatty liver. The liver breaks down consumed alcohol in the body. Excessive alcohol consumption leads to loss of efficiency in the liver during alcohol breakdown, negatively affecting the liver's normal functioning.
Eating high-calorie foods and the resulting weight gain can lead to fat accumulation in the liver. When accumulation surpasses the level at which the liver breaks down fats, fat accumulation occurs in the body. Correct diagnosis is essential for applying the right treatment for fatty liver. During this diagnosis process, genetic factors should be considered first, asking whether there's a history of fatty liver in the family, alcohol use, obesity, and other health problems.
Symptoms of Fatty Liver
When fat accumulation in the liver progresses, symptoms such as chronic fatigue, weight loss, weakness, loss of appetite, body swelling, nausea, increased susceptibility to bleeding in the body, and prolonged bleeding may occur.
Symptoms of fatty liver include:
- Yellowing of the eyes
- Yellowing of the skin
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal swelling
- Swelling in the legs
- Itching of the skin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
What is the Treatment for Fatty Liver?
In the treatment of fatty liver, the patient should first stop alcohol consumption and gain weight control by paying attention to their diet. The basic methods of losing weight are diet and exercise. The Mediterranean diet stands out as an effective type of nutrition and contributes to achieving successful results. Research shows that patients can prevent fatty liver by taking care of their quality of life. In advanced liver diseases, simple methods are not sufficient, and medication is applied. After fatty liver is detected, addressing this condition is crucial. Otherwise, untreated fat accumulation may progress, leading to serious health problems such as liver failure and cirrhosis.
Stages and Symptoms of Fatty Liver
Fatty liver is divided into four different stages according to its progression. Each stage indicates the severity of the disease and the extent of damage to liver tissue. Being detected and taking precautions in the early stage increases the success of the treatment process.
Stage 1 Symptoms of Fatty Liver:
At this stage, fat accumulation is still at the initial level and generally does not show symptoms. Some patients may experience weakness, loss of appetite, or a slight feeling of discomfort in the abdomen. Fatty liver at stage 1 can be largely controlled with lifestyle changes.
Stage 2 Symptoms of Fatty Liver:
Fat accumulation in liver cells increases, and inflammation may begin. This condition gradually impairs liver functions. Stage 2 symptoms of fatty liver include chronic fatigue, nausea, a feeling of pressure in the right upper abdomen, and itching of the skin. The severity of the disease increases at this stage, and starting treatment is crucial.
Stage 3 Symptoms of Fatty Liver:
Fat accumulation and inflammation cause damage to the liver, initiating fibrosis (hardening of tissue). Stage 3 symptoms of fatty liver include noticeable abdominal swelling, yellowing of the whites of eyes, itching of the skin, edema in the legs, and deterioration in general health condition. Progression at this stage may herald the onset of cirrhosis.
Stage 4 Symptoms of Fatty Liver:
At this most advanced stage, severe damage occurs in the liver, and cirrhosis may develop. Stage 4 symptoms of fatty liver include severe health issues: accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (ascites), bleeding, mental function disorders, and advanced jaundice. In this case, medical intervention is unavoidable.
Fatty Liver Symptoms on the Skin
Fatty liver can also present itself with some symptoms on the skin. These usually appear in the advanced stages of the disease. The most common skin symptoms include:
- Itching of the skin
- Yellowing (especially in the whites of the eyes and skin)
- Red palms
- Easy bruising of the skin
- Edema and swelling
These symptoms can indicate that the liver is not sufficiently detoxifying. Skin findings provide important clues for the early diagnosis of liver diseases.
How Does Fatty Liver Heal?
The most effective answer to how fatty liver heals lies in making radical lifestyle changes. Depending on the stage of the disease, different treatment approaches are applied:
- Changing the diet: Avoid sugary and fatty foods, and adopt a diet focused on vegetables and fruits.
- Weight control: The body mass index should be normalized.
- Exercise: A minimum of 150 minutes of regular exercise per week is recommended.
- Ceasing alcohol consumption: Alcohol directly damages the liver.
- Medication therapy: In advanced stages, medication therapy may be pursued under a doctor’s supervision.
The progress of the disease should be monitored with regular doctor check-ups and liver enzyme tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes fatty liver?
The main cause of fatty liver is the body's storage of more fat than it needs or its inability to break down and dispose of these fats quickly enough. This situation is generally related to obesity; as body weight increases, fat accumulation in liver cells increases. Alcohol consumption triggers fat accumulation because it challenges the liver's capacity to process alcohol. A sedentary lifestyle, unbalanced nutrition (especially the consumption of processed and high-calorie foods), insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and triglyceride levels are also major causes of this condition. Long-term use of certain medications, genetic factors, and rapid weight gain and loss also increase the risk of fatty liver. The treatment process may not be completely successful without determining the underlying cause of the disease.
How is fatty liver detected?
Fatty liver is usually a silent disease and often shows no symptoms in its early stages. Clinical findings can appear in advanced stages. Persistent fatigue, weakness, a feeling of fullness or pain in the right upper abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, itching of the skin, and yellowing can be observed. As the liver begins to fail, there may be an increase in liver enzymes in blood tests. Imaging techniques like ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can clearly detect fat accumulation in liver tissue. If necessary, a liver biopsy is performed to confirm the stage of the disease. Early diagnosis is critical to prevent the progression of liver damage.
Can fatty liver be completely reversed?
Yes, particularly in stages 1 and 2 of fatty liver, the disease can be completely reversed. At this point, the patient needs to make radical lifestyle changes. Adopting a healthy and balanced diet, exercising regularly, achieving ideal weight, and completely avoiding alcohol consumption play key roles in the treatment process. Since the liver is an organ capable of regenerating itself, complete recovery can be achieved if fat accumulation is detected early and intervened. As the disease progresses, especially in stages 3 and 4, permanent tissue damage and fibrosis (hardening of the liver) may develop. At these stages, complete reversal of the disease becomes more difficult, and irreversible conditions like liver cirrhosis might develop. Early diagnosis and regular monitoring are of great importance.
At which stage is fatty liver dangerous?
Fatty liver disease becomes dangerous, typically starting from stage 3. Inflammation increases at this stage, and liver cells begin to get damaged. Fibrosis develops, causing liver tissue to harden, and functional loss begins. In stage 4, it progresses to cirrhosis. In this stage, the liver's structure is disrupted, rendering it unable to perform its functions. Cirrhosis can lead to serious complications such as abdominal fluid accumulation (ascites), gastric varices, bleeding, and consciousness disturbances. At this point, treatment becomes much more difficult and limited; a liver transplant may even be required. Therefore, detecting and treating fatty liver in early stages is of vital importance. Stages 3 and 4 carry significant risks not only for the liver but also for overall health.