A silent killer disease is affecting five per cent of Brits and it shows virtually no symptoms. The liver, one of our most important organs, performs over 500 functions, like turning food into energy and getting rid of toxins in our blood. So, any issues with the liver can be really dangerous. One common problem is when fat starts to build up in the liver.
It’s believed that one in three adults in the UK have small amounts of fat in their liver. If this gets worse, it can turn into fatty liver disease, also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In its later stages, fatty liver disease can cause cirrhosis, liver failure and even death. That’s why it’s so important to catch it as soon as possible.
But what makes this condition so deadly is that it often doesn’t show any symptoms, reports the Express. The NHS says that you’re most at risk of fatty liver disease if you’re over 50 years old. They also say that there are “not usually any symptoms” of fatty liver disease in the early stages.
“You probably will not know you have it unless it’s diagnosed during tests carried out for another reason,” experts explain. If someone does experience any symptoms, these would only happen in the “more advanced stages” and are “occasional”.
These include:
- A dull or aching pain in the top right of the tummy (over the lower right side of the ribs)
- Extreme tiredness
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weakness
However, if the condition develops into cirrhosis, which is the most severe stage of the disease, other symptoms may start to show. The NHS explains: “Cirrhosis is scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by long-term liver damage. The scar tissue prevents the liver working properly.”
If cirrhosis develops, you could experience:.
- Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Itchy skin
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, feet or tummy (oedema).
“See a GP urgently or call 111 if you have any of these symptoms and have a liver condition,” the NHS adds. Last year’s data showed a shocking rise in the number of people being admitted to hospital because of liver disease in England. Figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities showed there was a 22 percent increase in liver disease hospital admissions from 2021 to 2022.
More specifically, there were 82,290 admissions in 2022 compared to 67,458 the year before. And compared to in 2012, hospital admissions due to liver disease increased by almost 47 per cent. As well as being aged over 50, there are other factors that can increase the risk of a fatty liver. These include if you:.
- Are obese or overweight – particularly if you have a lot of fat around your waist (an “apple-like” body shape)
- Have type 2 diabetes
- Have a condition that affects how your body uses insulin
- Are insulin resistance, such as polycystic ovary syndrome
- Have an underactive thyroid
- Have high blood pressure
- Have high cholesterol
- Have metabolic syndrome (a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity)
- Smoke.
To therefore lower your risk for the disease, the NHS recommends you:
- Lose weight – you should aim for a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise regularly – at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week
- Stop smoking