NAFLD: Sober but still at risk

You may not feel it and there may be no symptoms at all. But deep inside your body, your liver could be quietly storing fat, even if you’ve never touched a drop of alcohol. That’s the unnerving reality of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition that’s crawling into more lives than ever, silently and steadily.

What exactly do you mean by NAFLD? “It is a condition often stems from everyday habits that seem harmless at first; a sedentary routine, meals loaded with sugar and processed carbs, and that familiar struggle with weight gain. “People who drink little or no alcohol may develop NAFLD. People who are overweight or obese frequently exhibit it. The most prevalent type of liver disease in the world today is NAFLD. Although NAFLD in its early stages is typically benign and asymptomatic, it can develop into more severe forms such as Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), which involves damage and inflammation of the liver. NASH can result in cirrhosis, scarring (fibrosis), and potentially liver failure or malignancy if treatment is not received,” Interview with The New Indian Express publication explains Dr Naveen Polavarapu, senior consultant, medical gastroenterologist, liver specialist, lead, advanced endoscopic interventions & training, clinical director, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad.

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