HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 11: Recognising the seriousness of fatty liver disease and aligning with the Global Liver Institute, the North East Digestive and Liver Foundation in Guwahati is organising ‘Global Fatty Liver Day’ on June 13 to raise greater awareness and promote prevention of this silent disease. To mark this occasion, a rally titled ‘Run For Your Liver’ for greater awareness and prevention of fatty liver is set to be organised on June 13, 2024, from Latasil Playground to Nehru Stadium, Guwahati, at 6:00 am.
Dr BD Goswami, secretary of the North East Digestive and Liver Foundation in Guwahati, informed about the disease, stating, “Global Fatty Liver Day is a public education campaign inaugurated in June 2018 to enhance awareness and emphasise the pressing nature of fatty liver disease, particularly its advanced stages, which impact a staggering 115 million individuals worldwide. Fatty liver disease, and its more advanced form, remain a concealed global epidemic. An estimated 357 million people will be affected by 2030. As symptoms of fatty liver disease are often not overt, it is often under-diagnosed and under-reported. Unchecked, fatty liver disease may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver transplant.”
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Dr Amitava Goswami, senior gastroenterologist in Guwahati, in his address, informed, “There are two main types of fatty liver disease- metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol-related fatty liver disease (ALD). MASLD, formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is very common in the US, affecting 1 in 3 adults. While ALD is less common, affecting about 5 percent of people living in the US, and is caused by drinking alcohol.”
With ALD and MASLD, there are usually no symptoms. Some people may have signs such as tiredness or pain in the upper right side of the belly where the liver is. If you have MASH or get cirrhosis, you may experience symptoms such as a swollen belly, enlarged blood vessels underneath your skin, larger-than-normal breasts in men, red palms, skin and eyes that appear yellowish due to a condition called jaundice, nausea, weight loss, loss of appetite, tiredness, or mental confusion.
Sharing about the complications of this disease, Dr Amritangsu Borkakoti, gastroenterologist, and hepatologist said, “The main complication of all these conditions is cirrhosis. As your liver tries to stop the inflammation that comes with these conditions, it creates areas of scars. As inflammation spreads, so do the scars, and eventually, your liver can’t do its job. That can result in fluid buildup in your belly, swollen veins in your esophagus that can burst and bleed, confusion and drowsiness, an overactive spleen, liver cancer, liver failure, etc.”
If your liver has little or moderate scarring, it shouldn’t affect your lifespan. But if you have cirrhosis, it could affect how long you live. If FLD cirrhosis is diagnosed early, you could live another 10 to 15 years. If it is diagnosed late or you have complications, like swelling or fluid in your belly or bleeding in the gut, your life expectancy could be 3 to 5 years unless you get a liver transplant.
Emphasising the importance of lifestyle changes, Dr Utpal Jyoti Deka, gastroenterologist, and hepatologist informed, “One should exercise more. Try to be active for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week. If you’re trying to lose weight, you might find that it helps to exercise more than this. But if you don’t already exercise regularly, get your doctor’s approval first and start slowly.”
“Get your cholesterol down. Eat a healthy plant-based diet, exercise, and take your medications. This will get – and keep – your cholesterol and your triglyceride levels where they need to be. Manage your diabetes. Check your blood sugar, and take medications as your doctor prescribes,” shared Dr Hitesh Kalita, gastroenterologist, and hepatologist.
For MASLD and MASH, it boils down to making good choices – eat healthy food. Choose a plant-based diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. Stay at a healthy weight. Lose weight if you need to. If your weight is healthy, work to maintain it by choosing a healthy diet and exercising. Make exercise a part of your daily routine. Talk to your doctor first if you haven’t been active in a while, a PR stated.
