Non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an umbrella term given to a range of conditions causing fatty liver disease that is not due to alcohol. The condition is closely related to sedentary lifestyle. Studies show that although you may not appear to be overweight, you could still have a fatty liver.
Our liver helps our body to metabolise important nutrients we consume from our diet and excrete toxins. When excess fat is being accumulated around the liver it hinders its ability to function properly.
Early stages of NAFLD is typically asymptomatic but if left undetected or untreated it can lead to liver cirrhosis which is an end-stage condition.
Stages of NAFLD:
- Steatosis/fatty liver disease – condition where fat is accumulated around the liver. Most people will not experience any symptoms at this stage and it may only be picked up incidentally as part of another investigation such as an ultrasound.
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)– a more advanced stage of the condition where the liver becomes inflamed. Liver function tests will be raised.
- Fibrosis– results when the inflammatory process continues, causing scarring around the liver and blood vessels. The liver will still maintain most of its function.
- Cirrhosis– this is the non-reversable end-stage liver disease where the liver becomes stiff and full of scar tissue. At this stage, the liver will have lost its function and at increased risk of developing liver cancer.
Detecting early signs of fatty liver and making adjustable lifestyle changes early will prevent your condition getting worse.
Who is at risk of NAFLD?
NAFLD is an increasingly common disease from our lifestyle.
People at higher risk for developing fatty liver include:
- People who are obese or overweight, or typically have a lot of fat around your waistline.
- People with high blood pressure.
- People with Type 2 diabetes
- People with high cholesterol
- Smokers.
- People who are above 50 year of age.
NADFL is very treatable and the condition is reversable if detected and treated early. At Central Health we have an array of investigations to proactively look for any signs of liver disease to keep you healthy.
- Blood Test such as liver function tests
- Liver Mediscan- inhouse non-invasive, radioactive-free device using innovative technology to detect the amount of fat in your liver. This is a good screening tool if you want to make sure your liver is healthy but don’t want to splash out on your wallet for a conventional Fibroscan.
- Fibroscan- non-invasive ultrasound scan that measures the stiffness and degree of fatty changes in the liver. This will be done in a specialist clinic.
What is a Liver Medicscan?
This is new innovative technology using non-radiative electrodes and AI technology to calculate the amount of fatty deposits within your liver. An electrode belt is placed around your upper waistline and you are instructed to take a few deep breaths. An app connecting to the belt will soon be able to analyze the fat composition of your liver. This type of scan provides up to 80% accuracy, compared to conventional Fibroscan.
This could be a good option for surveillance and prevention purposes.
