How to prevent fatty liver that causes cirrhosis and liver cancer?
Nov 10, 2024
A 48-year-old A was recommended to see gastrointestinal internal medicine due to elevated liver levels during a recent national health examination. When I was young, I heard that there was a fatty liver, but I thought it was not a big problem, so I was very shocked when I saw the treatment this time. Because he was diagnosed with cirrhosis.
According to the recently published 『Fat Liver Statistics 2022" by the Association of Local Liver Studies of the Korean Diabetes Association, the prevalence of fatty liver among adults over 20 years of age was 39.3%. In other words, 4 out of 10 adults have 'fat liver'.
Fatty liver refers to a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver, and it is divided into alcoholic fatty liver caused by excessive drinking and non-alcoholic fatty liver related to metabolic syndrome such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Fatty liver also leads to steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
Seo Joon-young, head of the Department of Gastroenterology at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital of the Daejin Medical Foundation, said "The fatty liver itself may not show any special symptoms, but it can cause problems with liver function in the long run. 20% of fatty liver patients progress to steatohepatitis, and steatohepatitis patients are much more likely to progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer than those who do not. "Fat liver is a dangerous signal from our body, so if we have fatty liver, we need to take a good look at our body through periodic examination.", he explained.
In the case of fatty liver, when suspected findings are found through liver ultrasound, the degree of liver fibrosis is determined through liver fibrosis test equipment that measures liver elasticity, and then a treatment plan is established. In particular, when steatohepatitis worsens, liver fibrosis progresses, and there is a risk of liver fibrosis progressing to cirrhosis and ascites. It can lead to decompensated cirrhosis accompanied by decreased liver function such as jaundice.
Director Seo Joon-young said, `The key to fatty liver treatment is to eliminate the cause. In alcoholic fatty liver, abstinence is essential, and in non-alcoholic fatty liver, the management of overweight, obesity, and metabolic syndrome is important. Vitamin E can help in treating fatty liver inflammation, but exercise and diet are the most important treatments as fundamental treatments.'
The liver is an important organ that detoxifies harmful substances and stores various nutrients. However, the liver does not show any symptoms until it is damaged a lot, and once damaged, it hardens with fibrosis and is difficult to recover easily
Therefore, symptoms such as fatigue, general weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, and dull pain in the right upper abdomen, which are symptoms of liver disease, are important to detect and manage early through consultation with a specialist.
According to the recently published 『Fat Liver Statistics 2022" by the Association of Local Liver Studies of the Korean Diabetes Association, the prevalence of fatty liver among adults over 20 years of age was 39.3%. In other words, 4 out of 10 adults have 'fat liver'.
Fatty liver refers to a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver, and it is divided into alcoholic fatty liver caused by excessive drinking and non-alcoholic fatty liver related to metabolic syndrome such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Fatty liver also leads to steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
Seo Joon-young, head of the Department of Gastroenterology at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital of the Daejin Medical Foundation, said "The fatty liver itself may not show any special symptoms, but it can cause problems with liver function in the long run. 20% of fatty liver patients progress to steatohepatitis, and steatohepatitis patients are much more likely to progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer than those who do not. "Fat liver is a dangerous signal from our body, so if we have fatty liver, we need to take a good look at our body through periodic examination.", he explained.
In the case of fatty liver, when suspected findings are found through liver ultrasound, the degree of liver fibrosis is determined through liver fibrosis test equipment that measures liver elasticity, and then a treatment plan is established. In particular, when steatohepatitis worsens, liver fibrosis progresses, and there is a risk of liver fibrosis progressing to cirrhosis and ascites. It can lead to decompensated cirrhosis accompanied by decreased liver function such as jaundice.
Director Seo Joon-young said, `The key to fatty liver treatment is to eliminate the cause. In alcoholic fatty liver, abstinence is essential, and in non-alcoholic fatty liver, the management of overweight, obesity, and metabolic syndrome is important. Vitamin E can help in treating fatty liver inflammation, but exercise and diet are the most important treatments as fundamental treatments.'
The liver is an important organ that detoxifies harmful substances and stores various nutrients. However, the liver does not show any symptoms until it is damaged a lot, and once damaged, it hardens with fibrosis and is difficult to recover easily
Therefore, symptoms such as fatigue, general weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, and dull pain in the right upper abdomen, which are symptoms of liver disease, are important to detect and manage early through consultation with a specialist.
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