in today’s time fatty liver The problem has become very common. The increasing cases not only involve adults, but this disease is also being seen in young children. Fatty liver is mainly of two types:
- alcoholic fatty liver (Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease)
- Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease – NAFLD)
While the main cause of alcoholic fatty liver is excessive alcohol consumption, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Many other reasons may be responsible behind this. This article will give you detailed information about the causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver.
What is Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)?
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a disease in which excessive fat accumulates in the liver, but this condition is not caused by alcohol consumption. Due to modern lifestyle and unbalanced diet, cases of NAFLD are increasing rapidly. If it is not taken care of in time, it can cause serious problems like liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Causes of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD)
There can be many causes of non-alcoholic fatty liver. These mainly include:
- Wrong eating habits:
- Fast food, fried food and sweet beverages put extra pressure on the liver.
- Consuming excessive amounts of carbohydrates and sugar leads to accumulation of fat in the liver.
- Lack of physical activity:
- Sedentary and less mobile lifestyle promotes obesity, which leads to fatty liver problem.
- Obesity:
- Obese people are more likely to accumulate fat in the liver.
- Accumulation of fat around the abdomen (visceral fat) is especially dangerous.
- Diabetes:
- The risk of NAFLD increases in people with type-2 diabetes.
- Insulin resistance accelerates the process of fat accumulation in the liver.
- Cholesterol and high blood pressure:
- High cholesterol and blood pressure are also one of the major causes of fatty liver.
- Thyroid and hormonal imbalance:
- Patients with hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher risk of NAFLD.
- Exposure to Toxins:
- Prolonged exposure to toxins can cause inflammation and fat accumulation in the liver.
Symptoms of NAFLD
There are no obvious symptoms in the early stages of NAFLD, but when the problem becomes severe, the following symptoms may be felt:
- fatigue and weakness
- pain or heaviness in the upper abdomen
- weight gain or loss
- loss of appetite
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Swelling in the stomach (ascites)
Prevention Tips for NAFLD
Some important measures can be adopted to prevent and control NAFLD:
- Balanced diet:
- Include green vegetables, fruits, whole grains and proteins in your diet.
- Avoid junk food, fried food and sugar-rich foods.
- regular exercise:
- Do at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily.
- Adopt options like walking, yoga, cycling and gymming.
- Keep weight under control:
- Maintain your body mass index (BMI) at normal levels.
- Avoid crash diets and adopt healthy methods for weight loss.
- Control on sugar and cholesterol:
- Keep diabetes and cholesterol under control.
- Keep getting regular checkups done by the doctor.
- Reduce Stress:
- Reduce stress with techniques like meditation, pranayama and meditation.
- Adequate sleep:
- Take 7-8 hours of sleep daily. Lack of sleep affects metabolism.
- Protection from toxins:
- Avoid exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins.
Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD)
Treatment of NAFLD depends on lifestyle modifications and healthy habits. The doctor may suggest the following treatments:
- Diet Plan:
- Adopt a fat-control diet as per doctor’s advice.
- Medical Therapy:
- Some medicines can be helpful in reducing liver inflammation and fat.
- Weight Loss:
- Gradual weight loss can improve liver function.