Why is Liver important? Who should get screened?

Liver is one of the largest organs located in the right side of the Adults having following should get screened:
body in the upper right abdomen, below the ribcage.

It carries out over 500 essential functions in human body. Diabetes Overweight/Obesity Hypertension

Processes Overweight/Obesity Diabetes Metabolic syndrome

nutrients
Regulates
Destroys blood
old RBCs composition Dyslipidemia Metabolic syndrome* Excessive alcohol
C
consumption B

Detoxes Produces Excessive alcohol Chronic Hepatitis Any other symptom

blood bile consumption B & C infection of fatty liver disease

Since it is asymptomatic, one should get screened for fatty liver

Breaksdown Produces disease if risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and others listed
alcohol & proteins & Genetic factors Unhealthy diet Sedentary Lifestyle
medications cholesterol (family history of
above, are present.
fatty liver disease)
Resist
Infections *Any 3 conditions of the following list: insulin resistance/diabetes, high blood pressure, Is fatty liver disease dangerous?
abdominal obesity, high triglyceride levels and low HDL-cholesterol.
In most cases, fatty liver disease doesn’t cause any serious
What are the symptoms of fatty liver disease? problems or prevent your liver from functioning normally. But in
Functions of Liver 7% to 30% of people with the condition, fatty liver disease gets
Most people don't have any symptoms in early stages of the
worse over time. It progresses through three stages:
disease but some people may have following symptoms:
What are the common liver diseases?
The liver can become inamed (swollen), which
Common liver diseases are:
damages its tissue. This stage is called
Ÿ Fatty liver disease
steatohepatitis.
¡ Alcoholic fatty liver disease
¡ Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Scar tissue are formed where the liver is
Ÿ Diseases caused by chronic infection of Hepatitis B or/and damaged. This process is called brosis.
Abdominal Excessive Loss of Nausea
Hepatitis C Pain Fatigue Appetite Extensive scar tissue replaces healthy tissue. This
Ÿ Other auto-immune diseases is called cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis can lead
How can we get screened for fatty liver disease? to liver failure and liver cancer.
What is fatty liver disease?
Screening of liver can be done through following methods:
Fatty liver disease (steatosis) is a common condition caused by Should the fatty liver disease be ignored?
having too much fat build up in the liver. A healthy liver contains
a small amount of fat. It becomes a problem when fat content Though the fatty liver is asymptomatic, it should NOT be
exceeds 5% to 10% of the liver’s weight. ignored. Ignoring the fatty liver can lead to liver damage and can
cause cirrhosis in later stages.
Blood tests Ultrasound
such as Liver Function Test Is fatty liver reversible & treatable?
1 in 4 adults have fatty liver disease in India. Fatty liver is reversible in early stages by reducing weight and
maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Who are at risk of fatty liver disease? There’s no medication specically for fatty liver disease.
Common risk factors of fatty liver disease are: Instead, focussing on controlling the factors that contributed
Fibroscan CT Scan
to the fatty liver disease is important. It is recommended to What can be done in physical exercise?
make lifestyle changes that can signicantly improve the
Following physical activities can be undertaken:
health. Treatment includes:

Jogging & Running Skipping Cycling Swimming

Avoiding alcohol Reducing weight Taking doctor-
prescribed medication
to control diabetes,
cholesterol & triglycerides

How can fatty liver disease be prevented?

The best way to prevent fatty liver disease is to do things to
maintain overall health: Dancing and Yoga Brisk walking* Resistance training
aerobic exercises exercise
Ÿ Maintain healthy weight. Overweight or obese, should lose
weight gradually. Any combination of above-mentioned activities of moderate-
Ÿ Consume a healthy diet intensity is recommended for at least 150 min a week.
*Brisk walking is walking at the speed of at least 5.5 km per hour.
Ÿ Exercise regularly.
Ÿ Limit /Avoid alcohol consumption. References:
Ÿ Take medications as prescribed Ÿ EASL–EASD–EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the
Ÿ Have an annual health check-up management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-
What should be the ideal weight? 8278(15)00734-5/abstract
Ideal weight of a person should be: Ÿ NAFLD AASLD Guidelines - The diagnosis and management of
Male Female nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Practice guidance from the
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
https://www.aasld.org/sites/default/les/2019-06/lt-younossi.pdf
Ÿ The Asian Pacic Association for the Study of the Liver clinical
practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of
(Height in cm – 100) kg 95% of (Height in cm – 100) kg metabolic associated fatty liver disease.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-020-10094-2
How to maintain healthy diet?
Healthy diet can be maintained by consuming following:

GET YOURSELF SCREENED

Intake of sufficient High fiber content Intake sufficient
FOR FATTY LIVER
green vegetables food such as whole water (at least
and seasonal fruits grains, oats, salad, etc. 2-3 liters per day)

FATTY LIVER
INSTITUTE OF LIVER AND BILIARY SCIENCES
An Autonomous Society Under Govt. Of NCT of Delhi
3
D-1, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070

DISEASE
Tel.: + 91 11 46300000,
Fax: +91 11 46300010
Maintain a gap of Avoid fatty food Avoid alcohol
3 hours between and items prepared and tobacco Web: https://www.ilbs.in
dinner and sleeping using maida.