Life Expectancy Of Someone With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver refers to the accumulation of fat in the liver of a person. The problem is common, but in most of the cases, it does not involve any sign or symptom and does not result in any complication. However, in some people, the accumulation of fat leads to inflammation and liver scarring. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is a serious type of disease and if it remains untreated, the disease reaches its most severe form i.e. liver failure. (1)

Doctors may estimate the life expectancy of nonalcoholic fatty liver patients based on certain risk factors. Accordingly, the problem is common and even spreads consistently in the following types of people-

• Have overweight problems
• Have prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus
• In most cases, old aged and middle-aged people, while in rare cases, children
• Have triglycerides and cholesterol, along with other high-fat levels in the blood
• Have hypertension or high blood pressure
• Take corticosteroids and other cancer-related drugs
• Have metabolic syndrome or any other specific type of metabolic disorders
• Have rapid and consistent weight loss
• Hepatitis C and other related infections
• Exposed to a specific type of toxins ⁽³⁾

Cirrhosis takes place in response to fatty liver disease, including the inflammation in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. When your liver intends to halt the inflammation, it further produces scarring areas i.e. fibrosis. When the inflammation continues, fibrosis spreads to multiple liver tissues. ⁽⁴⁾

For many people, the fatty liver does not result in any severe problem. The liver may repair on its own to some extent. In this situation, following a healthy lifestyle is essential. However, if your condition of the nonalcoholic fatty liver increases consistently and if you continue to experience overweight problems, you would likely face many complications very soon.

Even though a simple form of the fatty liver does not cause any problem, without proper care or preventative steps, you may develop nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Furthermore, approximately 10percent to 25percent of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis develop the problem of cirrhosis within only 10years. Other than this, the problem of the fatty liver may result in cardiovascular problems and chronic kidney diseases, along with other severe health conditions. ⁽⁵⁾

On the other side, if you make the doctors’ recommended lifestyle changes, such as regular physical exercise and following a balanced diet early, you will preserve your good health for many years. Besides, you may reverse your liver damage even during the initial stages of your nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Even if you do not experience any symptoms associated with liver scarring (further stage of the nonalcoholic fatty liver), you should start following a healthy lifestyle. Besides, you should take steps to reduce your risks with regular blood tests and liver enzyme tests. ⁽⁶⁾

In most of the cases, the nonalcoholic fatty liver problem does not result in any sign or symptom. However, when symptoms take place in any affected person, they include-

• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Pain in the upper right area of one’s abdomen ⁽¹⁾

Nonalcoholic fatty liver may take place in two different types, which include the following-

In this case, you have fat deposition in the liver, but you do not experience any liver inflammation or liver cell damages. However, if you do not take the necessary precautions, the problem becomes worse in the later years. ⁽²⁾

Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis is relatively more severe as compared to the simple type of fatty liver. Accordingly, you have liver inflammation and damage in the liver cells. Besides, you will experience severe problems, which include-

• Fibrosis i.e. liver scarring problems
• Cirrhosis i.e. severe form of liver scarring, which results in liver failure and later on, death
• Liver cancer ⁽²⁾

To conclude, we should say that no one of us can say the number of years, for which an individual with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease will survive or experience complications. However, if a person chooses to bring lifestyle changes early, he or she may expect to avoid liver failure or liver damage.

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Also Read:

• Is Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease A Serious Condition & Can It Be Reversed?
• Lifestyle Changes For Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
• Best Exercises/Activities For Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
• How Common Is Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Or Is It A Rare Disease?
• How Long Will It Take To Recover From Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease & How Long Does The Symptoms Last?
• Home Remedies For Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
• How Dangerous Is Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease & Is It Contagious?