Due to the changing lifestyle in India, many diseases are spreading rapidly, one of which is fatty liver. It is estimated that about 38 percent of adults in the country may be affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Worryingly, the disease is often asymptomatic (…)
Due to the changing lifestyle in India, many diseases are spreading rapidly, one of which is fatty liver. It is estimated that about 38 percent of adults in the country may be affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Worryingly, the disease often progresses slowly without any obvious symptoms. According to gastroenterologist Dr. Saurabh Sethi (MD, MPH), fatty liver can only be diagnosed with an ultrasound or a liver function test, but there are some early symptoms that people can feel at home.
Constant fatigue
Fatigue associated with fatty liver is not the same as general weakness. In such a case, even after resting a lot, there is a lack of energy in the body. The liver works to convert nutrients into energy in the body, but when fat starts accumulating in it, this process slows down. As a result, the person may feel heavy, lethargic and tired throughout the day. Often people ignore it as an effect of stress or overwork, but when it becomes a daily occurrence, it is important to be careful.
Fat growth around the abdomen
An important sign of fatty liver is an increase in fat around the waist and abdomen. Sometimes a person looks thin on the outside, but the waist size starts to increase gradually. Dr. Sethi explains that fat accumulated around the liver and internal organs is more dangerous than fat accumulated under the skin. It is associated with insulin resistance and poor metabolic health, which is considered an early warning sign of fatty liver.
Feeling of heaviness or mild pain under the right ribs
An occasional heaviness or mild pain in the right side of the abdomen, under the ribs, can also be a sign. This pain is often not severe, but feels like pressure, stiffness, or fullness. Since the liver is located on the right side of the body, it should not be taken lightly if such problems appear along with fatigue and weight gain.
Mild signs of insulin resistance
Fatty liver is directly related to insulin resistance, in which the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin. Symptoms can be seen in everyday life, such as feeling hungry again after eating, a sudden drop in energy, or darkening of the skin around the neck and armpits. These symptoms often appear before diabetes develops.
Frequent nausea and loss of appetite
When the liver is unable to process fats and toxins properly, digestive problems can occur. Symptoms may include mild nausea, feeling full after eating a small amount of food, or reluctance to eat. According to Dr. Sethi, this is due to impaired liver function. Over time, the digestive system starts to become out of balance, which may not seem serious right away, but points to a deeper problem.
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