What is Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?
Non alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD is a condition in which a person who drinks little or no alcohol accumulates fat in the liver. This occurs when the liver has trouble breaking down fats resulting in its build up in the liver tissue. It rarely causes any signs, symptoms or complications, but when it does, it is accompanied by fatigue, pain in the upper right abdomen and weight loss. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease occurs in three forms – from harmless to life-threatening. • At its simplest form, NAFLD can cause excess liver fat, but no complications. This condition is thought to be very common. • In a small number of people with fatty liver, the fat causes liver inflammation and impairs its ability to function normally and leads to complications. This more serious form of NAFLD is called Non Alcholic Steatohepatitis or NASH. • The most severe case of NAFLD is when scarring in the liver tissue occurs (liver fibrosis). With time, it can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure or l
