JOIN USIt is time you took that dull pain in your abdomen seriously. Chances are you are suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver. The condition is cause because of too much fat deposition in the liver. In the early stages, it won't usually cause any symptoms, but it can potentially lead to cirrhosis (final stage of liver damage) or liver cancer. High levels of fat in the liver can also increase the risk of stroke, diabetes and heart attacks.
Here are a few risk factors that could cause development of the disorder:
* A body mass index higher than 25, especially if there is lot of fat around the waist
* High cholesterol
* High blood pressure
* Smoking
The symptoms of this disorder are hardly noticeable in the early stages. Some may feel a dull pain in the upper belly, excessive tiredness and experience unexplained weight loss.
Prevention
Lifestyle changes and diet modifications are the key treatment options, which can halt the progression of fatty liver to liver failure.
* Aim for a BMI of 18.5-24.9.
* Consume a balanced meals of fruits, vegetables, cereals and pulses but low in fat and sugar.
* Exercise regularly. Even 30 minutes of walking or cycling will help.
* Avoid excessive smoking and consumption of alcohol.
(The author is senior liver specialist at LivWell Centre for Liver Diseases)