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Fatty Liver Grade 1 2 3 Symptoms: In today’s time, due to poor lifestyle and unbalanced diet, ‘Fatty Liver’ has taken the form of a silent epidemic in India. According to international studies, about one billion people worldwide are affected by it, while in India this rate has been seen ranging from 9% to 32%. In medical language, it is called Non-Alcoholic Liver Disease (MASLD/NAFLD), which gradually hollows out the liver from inside without any major noise.
For people suffering from obesity, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, it is very important to have complete information about fatty liver from grade 1 to grade 3, so that it can be treated in time and completely reversed.
Grade 1 fatty liver: early stage and often symptomless
Fatty liver grade 1 (or mild steatosis) is considered when fat accumulates in 5% to 33% of the total liver cells.
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Main characteristics: According to Delhi’s famous gastroenterologist Dr. Neeraj Dhamija, no obvious symptoms are visible in this initial stage. The person may feel only mild fatigue, weakness or a little heaviness in the upper right part of the stomach, which people often ignore considering it to be normal gas.
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Causes and Investigations: Its main reasons are obesity, uncontrolled triglycerides and poor diet. Doctors detect this through a simple abdominal ultrasound and liver function test (LFT).
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Prevention and treatment: This step is completely reversible. It can be completely cured only by improving lifestyle, giving up refined sugar and junk food and doing regular 30 minutes exercise.
Grade 2 fatty liver: moderate condition and increased risk
When fat accumulates in 34% to 66% of the liver, it is classified as Grade 2 fatty liver. In this stage the normal functioning of the liver starts getting affected.
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Main characteristics: According to experts like Dr. Saurabh Singhal, at this stage the body starts giving clear warnings. The patient experiences symptoms like loss of appetite, constant swelling or bloating in the stomach, excessive thirst and severe fatigue all the time.
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Causes and Investigations: Sedentary lifestyle, working continuously while sitting for long hours, fried food and uncontrolled sugar are the main reasons for this. To measure its depth, ‘Fibroscan’ or CT scan is done along with LFT.
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Prevention and treatment: In this phase, doctors strongly advise the patient to reduce 7 to 10% of his total weight. If carelessness is taken at this stage, it rapidly turns into Grade 3.
Grade 3 fatty liver: serious condition and risk of cirrhosis
This is the most extreme and dangerous condition of fatty liver, in which more than 67% of the liver is covered with a thick layer of fat.
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Main characteristics: Dr. Neeraj Dhamija warns that in Grade 3, severe inflammation of the liver occurs. Its symptoms include severe pain in the stomach, sudden weight loss, frequent nausea (vomiting), swelling of hands and feet (edema) and yellowing of eyes and skin (jaundice).
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Causes and Investigations: Continued ignoring of Grade 1 and 2 symptoms, alcohol abuse and uncontrolled diabetes take it to dangerous levels. To know the exact condition, the doctor may advise liver biopsy.
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Prevention and treatment: At this stage, diet and exercise alone are not enough, rather strict medicines from the doctor are required. In case of liver damage, the only option left is ‘Liver Transplant’. Therefore, getting regular checkups done on time is the best way to avoid this.