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HEALTHY LIVER
Jaundice Bruising and bleeding Dark urine Alcohol abuse Heredity Diabetes
The most prominent When the liver is Caused by build-up of Over time, the Liver diseases such as Unchecked diabetes can
symptom of liver damage. compromised, it stops bilirubin (an indication of inflammatory effect that haemochromatosis are inherited slowly damage the liver or
This symptom is caused by producing certain proteins that poor liver function). alcohol has on the liver from one or both parents. Having worsen fatty liver disease.
the accumulation of bilirubin enable blood clotting. Easy can cause a build-up of one or both parents with
in the body. bruising and bleeding could be scar tissue (cirrhosis). hereditary liver disease
a sign of liver damage. increases your chances of
developing it.
Swollen ankles Abdominal pain Nausea Unhealthy eating habits Infection Autoimmunity
Your body retains water Liver damage can cause If you are constantly Eating too much fatty food The most common infections Diseases such as primary biliary
when your liver is not a sporadic throbbing or nauseous or vomiting can cause liver damage that cause liver damage are cirrhosis and autoimmune
functioning properly. The stabbing pain under the right frequently, it could due to fatty liver, hepatitis due to hepatitis viruses, hepatitis stress the liver and
excess fluid pool in your side of the ribcage or the indicate liver damage. or a combination of both which spread through bodily cause scarring.
lower extremities and make upper right abdomen. (steatohepatitis). fluids, food and water, or
your ankles appear swollen. close contact.
The liver can take on quite a heavy workload, but you shouldn't take it for granted as being
unaware of your liver health could be fatal.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 25 JUNE 2019 3
4 Healthy Liver THE STAR, TUESDAY 25 JUNE 2019
A lesser-known danger
“WHAT if you had a potentially life-
threatening disease and didn’t know it? Fatty
liver disease is one such disease. Often, no
symptoms whatsoever appear in the
beginning, only becoming apparent when
significant and sometimes irreversible
damage to the liver has already occurred.
“Symptoms include abdominal pain and
distension, vomiting blood and jaundice.
This silent progression is what makes this
disease all the more dangerous,” says Dr
Prabhjot Singh Sidhu, gastroenterology and
hepatology consultant at Ara Damansara
Medical Centre.
Fatty liver occurs when there is excessive
fat deposition in the liver. Its causes are
many – excessive alcohol consumption, viral
hepatitis, autoimmune conditions and
metabolic syndrome.
The extremely high rates of obesity,
diabetes mellitus and hypertension all
contribute to metabolic syndrome, which,
according to Dr Prabhjot, is the most
common culprit of fatty liver disease in the
country.
“The risk of having a fatty liver, or in this
case, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD), by way of metabolic syndrome is
increased by risk factors such as weight gain,
significant weight loss, diabetes mellitus,
raised lipid levels, hypertension and
hypothyroidism. You only need two of these
factors to be at increased risk of developing
NAFLD.” Many people used to think that fatty liver disease is nothing serious, but doctors now caution that fat deposits in the liver can lead to fibrosis,
Many people, including doctors, used to cirrhosis and even liver cancer.
think that fatty liver disease is nothing
serious because it’s just fat and we all have a “Diagnosis of fatty liver is fairly easy since “Between 20% and 70% of DILI can be
little. However, Dr Prabhjot warns, “This fat it can be detected with a simple ultrasound attributed to herbal remedies. Even though
deposit causes inflammation over time, and blood test. The treatment can be simple it’s rare, we should still worry because
which can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis and even if the right approach – addressing the root treatment is limited and outcomes can be
liver cancer. Yes, it can take years at times cause – is taken. For instance, if obesity is the poor. Aside from mislabelling, many
for the condition to progress from one stage cause, the treatment is to lose weight. If ingredients in these products are often not
to the next, but the progression can be more drinking alcohol excessively is the cause, listed. It is important to remember that
rapid and even skip a stage in some people. then quitting alcohol is the remedy. As for something ‘natural’ does not automatically
“It is important to remember that the top NAFLD, aside from exceptional cases, the mean it is safe. Do the research and make
two killers in people with fatty liver disease only recognised treatment is weight loss. educated, informed decisions. If unsure, see
are heart disease and cancer, not liver There are no recommended drugs as a form your doctor.”
failure, as previously assumed. Having a of treatment as of today.”
fatty liver also significantly increases your
risk of heart disease, diabetes mellitus (by up
The ignored powerhouse
to five times), colorectal cancer (by up to
Beware of randomly popping pills While he is all for people wanting to be
three times) and colonic polyps (by 1.5 “When faced with a serious disease, and healthy and taking care of themselves, Dr
times).” the treatment course requires some effort, Prabhjot stresses that there is no shortcut to
“The severity varies between individuals, we often see people look for shortcuts and achieving it.
but the risk factors are there, so it is essential reach for supplements and/or herbal “Keeping healthy is a continuous process
to diagnose fatty liver as early as possible to remedies. This practice can be very that takes dedication and hard work through
address its causes.” Dr Prabhjot Singh Sidhu. dangerous.” eating well, exercising regularly and
Dr Prabhjot has a word of warning for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Unless you
accumulation because they depend on body such people, “Medicines must pass stringent have conditions that require medication, you
Lack of proper awareness mass index, which is not an accurate tests by an appropriate governing body to be can never achieve good health by just
“There is a common misconception that measure since it doesn’t consider muscle classified safe and effective, but when it popping a pill because, for the moment at
only obese people are susceptible to NAFLD. weight. A better way is to find out your body comes to herbal remedies and supplements, least, there is no such thing, especially for
People with obesity are at risk, but people fat percentage. the rules are different. The requirements are liver health,” he says.
with centripetal obesity (fat accumulation “Since there are no symptoms in the early much more relaxed. Dr Prabhjot emphasises that the liver is
around the stomach region) are more at risk. stages of fatty liver disease, it is best to go for “There is often little evidence that these one of the most neglected and often abused
Let’s not forget that between 7% and 20% of a screening if you have the risk factors or remedies work. Drug-induced liver injury organs in our bodies, and people must put in
patients with fatty liver disease are are worried. However, for those with (DILI), although rare, is serious, with more effort in being aware of and
considered slim or of normal weight.” diabetes mellitus or obesity, screening is a anabolic steroids, weight-loss supplements, preserving their liver health.
Many people misjudge their fat must,” stresses Dr Prabhjot. herbs and green tea extracts topping the list
of its causes. n For more information, call 03-5639 1212.