The liver is one of our vital organs, responsible for more than 500 functions in the human body. Therefore, any complications involving the liver can be extremely dangerous.
There are several health conditions linked with the liver. One of the most common in the UK is fatty liver disease.
As its name implies, fatty liver disease is caused by a buildup of excess fat in the liver. The biggest risk for developing the disease is being overweight or obese – especially if the weight mainly accumulates around the waist.
Over time the excess of fat causes the organ to become inflamed, potentially leading to scarring. In its early stages fatty liver disease often doesn’t present with symptoms meaning it can go undetected.
However, if it is left untreated you might start to notice signs appearing. In the long term, untreated fatty liver disease can also have serious consequences including liver failure, cancer and even death.
As with any disease, the sooner the symptoms are caught the sooner it can be treated.
With this in mind a Harvard-trained liver doctor took to social media platform TikTok to share some telltale signs of fatty liver disease to be aware of.
Hepatologist Doctor Saurabh Sethi, from the US, said: “Five warning signs of fatty liver.”
These signs are:
- Abdominal discomfort in the upper right side
- Fatigue and weakness
- Weight loss or poor appetite
- Elevated liver enzymes (ALT and AST)
- Enlarged liver (in advanced stages).
The NHS describes the abdominal discomfort in more detail.
This could be a “a dull or aching pain” in the “top right of the tummy (over the lower right side of the ribs)”.
If your condition becomes more advanced and reaches cirrhosis you might also experience:
- Jaundice
- Itchy skin
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, feet or tummy (oedema).
If you experience any signs of a fatty liver or are concerned about your weight you should speak to your GP.
Dr Sethi’s advice comes as the UK has seen a surge in liver disease cases in recent years.
Figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities revealed there was a 22 percent increase in liver disease hospital admissions from 2021 to 2022.
Specifically there were 82,290 admissions in 2022 compared to 67,458 the year prior.
And compared to in 2012, hospital admissions due to liver disease increased by almost 47 percent.
Vanessa Hebditch, director of policy at the British Liver Trust, commented: “These figures once again demonstrate how action is needed.
“The British Liver Trust is calling for a prompt and comprehensive review of adult liver services to address the huge variation and inequalities in liver disease treatment outcomes and care.
“The surge in hospital admissions emphasises the urgent need for immediate action to tackle the growing burden of liver disease on the NHS and society as a whole.”