Severe Symptoms Of Fatty Liver In Abdomen And Legs

Like the heart and brain, the liver is an important organ of the body. The primary functions of the liver are albumin and bile production, blood filtration, enzyme activation, and storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals. Being the largest internal organ in the body, the liver has many roles. When the liver cannot do its job properly, various physical problems arise. One of the biggest health problems associated with the liver is fatty liver disease. Here are some Severe Symptoms of Fatty Liver

 

What causes fatty liver?

Fatty liver disease occurs when excess fat accumulates in the liver. This can happen for a number of reasons. One of the top causes is excessive alcohol consumption, which can lead to alcoholic fatty liver disease.

 

Alcoholic beverages can cause the liver to make more fat instead of breaking down stores. Alcoholic fatty liver is more common in those who drink alcohol.

 

NAFLD or Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, on the other hand, is another type of fatty liver disease, which is mainly caused by factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, high levels of blood fat (triglycerides), and metabolic syndrome.

 

Age, genetics, certain medications, and pregnancy increase the risk of various diseases including fatty liver. The key to preventing fatty liver disease is early diagnosis.

 

If the disease is not diagnosed or treated in time, it can lead to cirrhosis of the liver. If the problem of fatty liver worsens, its harmful effects fall on the legs and abdomen.

 

Severe symptoms of fatty liver can be a continuous accumulation of fat can lead to inflammation in this critical body organ, giving rise to another health problem called NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis).

 

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH refers to inflammation caused by excess fat cells in the liver. Chronic inflammation causes progressive liver damage or cirrhosis.

 

According to Cedars-Sinai, patients with Nash, who have had significant liver damage, experience “swelling of the legs” and “fluid accumulation in the abdomen.”

 

It is caused by increased pressure in the vein that carries blood through the liver, known as the portal vein. As a result of increased pressure in the veins, fluid accumulates in the body, including the legs, ankles, and abdomen.

 

When pressure builds up in the portal vein, it can rupture. This can result in internal bleeding. If you see signs of blood in the stool or vomit in addition to a swelling of the legs or abdomen, take the patient to the hospital immediately.

 

Watch out for yellowing of the eyes and skin, another common sign of liver damage. Jaundice occurs when the liver cannot remove enough bilirubin (a blood waste product) from the blood, according to information from the Mayo Clinic.

 

Jaundice causes the skin to turn yellow, the whites of the eyes, and the urine to turn dark. One may experience itching, rapid weight loss, spider veins on the skin, nausea, loss of appetite, and fatigue.

 

 

How to prevent fatty liver disease?

One can prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

 

Also avoid foods rich in saturated fat, sugar, oil, and processed foods to maintain a healthy weight.