Hepatic steatosis or fatty liver is the term used to describe a buildup of fat within the liver. It is normal to have a bit of fat in the liver, but if there is too much it can become a big health problem.
The liver is one of the most important organs in the body. It is the second largest organ and its job is to process everything that we eat and drink and remove harmful substances from the blood. If there is too much fat in the liver this process can be interrupted. Fatty liver is described as when fat makes up more than five percent of the weight of the liver.
Fatty liver can be reversed with the proper lifestyle modifications. In some cases, a person with fatty liver will not have any symptoms. In addition, there is often no permanent damage caused by fatty liver unless it is allowed to progress.
The condition of fatty liver is actually quite common and affects anywhere from ten to twenty percent of Americans. Most cases occur in people between the ages of forty to sixty. If fatty liver is not
treated it can become quite harmful.
Here are eight causes of fatty liver to consider.
1. Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is one of the most common reasons that a person will develop fatty liver disease. Drinking too much alcohol is very hard on your liver and can cause all types of damage. For this reason, it is important to limit your alcohol consumption.
If you have some of the symptoms of fatty liver disease already, limiting the amount of alcohol that you drink is extremely important. In fact, it is a good idea to not drink any alcohol at all. This will give your liver more time to repair itself and some of the effects of fatty liver could be reduced.
