The medical term steatohepatitis is used by physicians to describe fatty liver. This is due to the fact that unhealthy lifestyle habits boost fat production in such a way that the fats produced are stored in the liver cells. However, steatohepatitis is relatively easy to reverse.
What is steatohepatitis?
In the case of steatohepatitis, the doctor treating you speaks of fatty liver. A distinction is primarily made between alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. In most cases, fatty liver can be reversed with a few lifestyle changes. For comprehensive guide to leukoencephalopathy, please visit growtheology.com.
The doctor divides steatohepatitis into three degrees. Grade 1 is referred to as a light or mild fatty liver, in which less than a third of the cells present store fat. Grade 2 is moderately fatty liver, in which around two-thirds of the liver cells are filled with fat. If the patient suffers from grade 3 fatty liver, the obesity already affects more than two thirds.
Causes
There are many, relatively different, possible causes. First, the physician differentiates whether it is an alcoholic or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. With excessive alcohol consumption, the active ingredients damage the liver cells, such as the cell membrane.
If there is non-alcoholic fatty liver, the cause is often the metabolic syndrome. This means that type II diabetes mellitus, severe obesity or medication, such as toxins, are responsible for steatohepatitis. Rare diseases such as Wilson’s disease can also sometimes cause fatty liver.
Protein malnutrition can be another cause of steatohepatitis. There is also the so-called pregnancy fatty liver. This is rare and requires immediate medical attention as this condition often causes severe liver damage. It is not yet clear why a pregnancy liver develops.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
Steatohepatitis (inflammation of the liver) is often a serious disease characterized by the typical symptoms of a severe digestive disorder. This is the case when it comes to chronic active hepatitis. This leads to severe upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, tiredness, exhaustion and easy exhaustion.
Sometimes fever occurs. Yellowing of the skin and eyes is also often observed as the disease progresses. The stool is light in color and the urine is dark. This is an unmistakable sign of jaundice. Under certain circumstances, water collects in the abdomen ( ascites ). In contrast, the chronic persistent form of steatohepatitis is milder than chronic active fatty liver inflammation.
Often there are no symptoms at all. Fatty liver inflammation develops on the basis of a fatty liver that initially shows no or only minor symptoms. Only unspecific symptoms such as pressure and a feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen and slight pain when pressure is applied can occur. In some people, a fatty liver then leads to inflammation.
If fatty liver inflammation is not treated, it can lead to serious complications. Since liver tissue is constantly being broken down during inflammation, cirrhosis of the liver often develops, which often ends fatally. With cirrhosis of the liver, the symptoms of steatohepatitis are even more aggravated. Furthermore, bleeding from varices ( varicose veins ) can occur in the esophagus and stomach, sometimes even leading to bleeding.
Diagnosis & History
Doctors often make the diagnosis based on the patient’s medical history. He also carries out physical examinations so that he can determine whether there are any causes due to eating habits or due to alcohol-related factors.
A symptom of fatty liver is the strong enlargement of the organ, so that the doctor can palpate it through the abdominal wall without any problems. Liver enlargement is confirmed by sonography (ultrasound). However, why a fatty liver developed can not be said with the help of sonography. Furthermore, the blood count also provides information about whether there are elevated liver values and whether one can therefore speak of a fatty liver.
Another way to make the diagnosis is to remove liver tissue – the so-called liver biopsy. Here the doctor can tell whether it is steatohepatitis or whether the liver is inflamed or has other diseases. Depending on the obesity and degree, the further course of the disease also depends. As a rule, fatty liver can be cured relatively easily with the help of dietary changes or abstinence from alcohol.
If the patient maintains his lifestyle or does not avoid harmful substances, irreparable damage to the liver is inevitable. Other diseases, such as liver cirrhosis or complete organ failure, are possible and sometimes have life-threatening consequences.
Complications
People suffering from steotohepatitis usually suffer from chronic abdominal pain and loss of appetite. A lack of appetite can lead to further complications in the long run. Fatty liver hepatitis patients are repeatedly affected by dehydration and deficiency symptoms.
In the most severe case, dehydration occurs, which is associated with impaired consciousness and can be fatal if left untreated. If the patient maintains his lifestyle despite all the symptoms, the liver, kidneys and heart will be irreparably damaged. This results in other diseases, such as liver cirrhosis or liver failure.
In any case, liver damage has life-threatening consequences. Further complications depend on the underlying disease. For example, if steohepatitis is caused by diabetes mellitus, it can lead to cardiovascular problems, impotence and other complications. Obesity has long-term negative effects on the entire body and is usually associated with a reduced life expectancy.
Drug treatment of fatty liver hepatitis can cause the typical symptoms: gastrointestinal problems, skin irritation, headache, muscle and body aches, and immune system disorders. Long-term medication can damage the internal organs further.
When should you go to the doctor?
In the case of steatohepatitis, the person affected is always dependent on treatment by a doctor. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications and, in the worst case, even to the death of the person concerned, so that treatment by a doctor is necessary for this disease. A doctor must be consulted at the first sign of fatty liver. The earlier steatohepatitis is recognized and treated, the better the further course. A doctor should be consulted if the person concerned suffers from severe nausea or vomiting.
In many cases, there is also a loss of appetite or severe pain in the upper area of the abdomen. Furthermore, a permanent fever also indicates the disease and should be examined by a doctor if the fever cannot be treated by self-help measures. If the disease is not treated, it can also lead to jaundice. Contact persons are the general practitioner or an internist. Further treatment depends on the exact symptoms.
Treatment & Therapy
The doctor decides the treatment and therapy based on why the steatohepatitis arose. First and foremost, therefore, the underlying disease must be determined; in a broader context, a change in lifestyle is suggested. If you have consumed a lot of fatty foods or alcohol up to this point, you should refrain from doing so.
Above all, it is important that – especially in the case of an alcoholic fatty liver – alcohol is completely eliminated from life for a relatively long time. This is the only way the liver can regenerate itself. If the steatohepatitis arose as a result of poisoning or medication, it is advisable if the substances are subsequently avoided.
If the cause is obesity or diabetes mellitus, it is advisable for the patient to lose weight and have their blood sugar adjusted or adjusted better. In this way, fatty liver can sometimes be reversed.
Prevention
Steatohepatitis can very well be prevented and prevented. For example, those who abstain from alcohol reduce the risk of developing alcoholic steatohepatitis. People who are extremely overweight should also lose weight to prevent steatohepatitis. Above all, it is advisable that people pay attention to a healthy diet, do enough physical activity and have regular medical examinations. In this way, you can fight fatty liver even at the first small signs and counteract the further course of the disease in a positive way.
Aftercare
In most cases, those affected with steatohepatitis have only very few and only very limited direct follow-up measures available. For this reason, a doctor should ideally be consulted very early on in the case of this disease, so that other complications or symptoms do not arise in the further course.
As a rule, self-healing does not occur, although an early diagnosis can always have a positive effect on the further course of the disease. Most of those affected are dependent on a change in diet. A doctor can also draw up a nutrition plan, which should be followed in any case. A healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet can also have a very positive effect on the further course of this disease.
Above all, those affected should avoid alcohol and very greasy and sweet foods. In general, obesity and diabetes should also be avoided. Regular check-ups and examinations by a doctor are often very important to monitor the current status of this disease. The disease may reduce the life expectancy of the person affected if it is not recognized and treated in time.
You can do that yourself
In the case of steatohepatitis, a reduced calorie intake helps, with the reduction of carbohydrates being important. A low-fat diet with little animal protein is recommended. Foods with a high proportion of omega-3 fatty acids, L-carnitine and probiotics can be valuable.
In general, regular training is also considered useful. Because exercise increases your metabolic rate. This helps to reduce elevated blood lipid levels and supports liver function. Sports such as swimming, jogging or walking are useful. In addition, sugar intake should be minimized. Fatty and fried foods, as well as spicy foods should be avoided at all costs. Alcohol and smoking should be avoided as this puts a lot of strain on the liver.
There are also foods that can reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver. Dandelion, for example, acts as a liver tonic. Dandelion promotes liver function and stimulates liver detoxification by helping to metabolize accumulated toxins. Licorice root can support the healing process by lowering the transaminase activities of the enzymes AST and ALT.
However, one of the most impressive foods against steatohepatitis is apple cider vinegar. It helps in removing accumulated fat from the liver. In addition to proven home remedies and a healthy diet, it is particularly important to drink enough fresh water. This helps prevent liver overload by eliminating more toxins.
