Treatment of Fatty Liver Disease
There are currently no specific medicines for treating fatty liver disease. Management mainly involves lifestyle changes. For metabolic associated fatty liver disease, you’ll likely be advised to follow a healthy diet (avoiding sugar), lose weight, exercise regularly, control blood sugar if you have diabetes, treat high cholesterol if present, avoid medications that can affect the liver, drink little to no alcohol, and quit smoking. If your fatty liver is due to alcohol, giving up alcohol is crucial to prevent the condition from worsening. Doctors may refer you to a dietitian, drug and alcohol counsellor or other specialists for more information.
Prevention of Fatty Liver Disease
To prevent metabolic associated fatty liver disease, it’s recommended to follow a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, maintain a healthy weight, drink little to no alcohol, and be physically active on most days of the week. If you haven’t been exercising regularly, it’s wise to consult your doctor first.
Complications of Fatty Liver Disease
Initially, fatty liver may not cause many problems for many people. But over time, it can slowly worsen. The extra fat in the liver can lead to inflammation, which eventually results in scarring (fibrosis) of the liver. It may also progress to more serious chronic liver diseases like cirrhosis or liver cancer. Some people with severe liver cirrhosis may need a liver transplant. Moreover, those with fatty liver have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
It’s important to stay vigilant about the signs and symptoms and seek medical advice if any changes are noticed.