27.3 F
Clarksville
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
HomeNewsTennessee Department of Health says Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease a Silent, Slow-Acting...

Tennessee Department of Health says Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease a Silent, Slow-Acting Killer

Lifestyle Changes Could Prevent Disease from Occurring, Save Lives

Tennessee Department of HealthNashville, TN – Healthcare professionals are seeing evidence of a troubling new epidemic: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a potentially fatal condition that can follow a lifestyle of too little physical activity and a high-calorie diet with too much sugar.

The disease develops gradually as extra fat accumulates in the liver, usually has no early warning signs and causes irreversible harm to one of the body’s most important organs.

Health Alert

“One-fifth of adults and an increasing number of children may have the deadly disease and not know it,” said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “It’s important to understand this is a preventable disease. By increasing our physical activity and limiting our calories, particularly our intake of simple sugars in things like drinks and sweets, we can reduce our chances of suffering from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and a host of other conditions that shorten our lives.”

As nonalcoholic fatty liver disease progresses, fat accumulates in the liver and scar tissue can replace normal tissue, resulting in cirrhosis. Cirrhosis may progress to end stage liver disease, resulting in loss of the liver’s ability to function.

While some may assume cirrhosis is a condition caused only by consuming alcohol over extended periods of time, it can occur in those who never drink alcohol, hence the name nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. If not prevented early enough, it can cause the liver to slowly stop functioning.

Healthcare professionals are still learning about the causes of fatty liver and there are no medications to specifically treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. For those who have progressed to end stage liver disease, a liver transplant may be the only option.

The liver is necessary for life. It is the largest internal organ in the human body and performs many vital functions. It filters and removes toxins from the blood. It assists in absorption and storage of key nutrients. It makes key components of the blood-clotting system and helps regulate the body’s response to infection. It processes medications and has a role in protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It makes sugar the body needs for energy and helps regulate insulin.

Some patients who are diagnosed early enough can halt the progress of fatty liver disease through diet and lifestyle changes and by including an effective physical activity program. They should have regular monitoring to evaluate the condition of their livers and screen for complications of liver disease.

Immunizations against viruses that may damage the liver and avoidance of other liver toxins such as alcohol are important to prevent further damage.

“Unfortunately, there just aren’t enough donor livers available for the growing number of people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease who may desperately need one,” said TDH Chief Medical Officer David Reagan, MD, PhD. “While a proper diet and adequate exercise are important for everyone, they are especially important for people who are overweight or who have diabetes. Everyone needs a functioning liver; that’s why it’s so important to protect your liver by eating healthy, being physically active and seeing your healthcare provider if you have questions.”

These articles provide more information about nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:

www.aspph.org/oregon-state-liver-recovery-difficult-even-with-improved-diet-but-faster-if-sugar-intake-is-low/

http://m.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/inside_tract/inside_tract_summer_2011/introducing_our_next_epidemic_fatty_liver_disease

About the Tennessee Department of Health

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. TDH has facilities in all 95 counties and provides direct services for more than one in five Tennesseans annually as well as indirect services for everyone in the state, including emergency response to health threats, licensure of health professionals, regulation of health care facilities and inspection of food service establishments.

Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles