The liver is a large exocrine gland, a vital organ located mainly in the right upper abdomen. It secretes bile and plays an important role in the body's metabolism. Liver diseases are often detected incidentally — during examinations for another reason.
Liver functions
The liver secretes bile and participates in the body's metabolism. Its tissue consists of lobules (structural units) made up of hepatocytes (liver cells).
Why there is no pain in the early stages
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease usually causes no symptoms, and many people live with it without knowing. Some patients experience pronounced fatigue, general malaise, or discomfort in the abdomen under the right ribs. The absence of pain does not mean the absence of damage.
Most common causes of damage
The risk of fatty liver disease is higher in people who are overweight, especially with fat around the abdomen and waist, with an unhealthy diet or low physical activity, with type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, high blood pressure or cholesterol, and also at age over 50. The doctor separately asks about alcohol consumption to rule out alcoholic liver disease. According to WHO, hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and can be acute or chronic. The virus is most often transmitted from mother to child during childbirth, as well as through blood and biological fluids — during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections, tattooing, piercing, and reuse of needles. Infection acquired in adulthood becomes chronic in less than 5% of cases, and in early childhood — in about 95%.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis B and late stages
According to WHO, symptoms of acute hepatitis B include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, pronounced fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Most people have no symptoms immediately after infection. Late stages are considered separately: fatty disease has four stages — fat accumulation without damage, inflammation, fibrosis (scarring of tissue), and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a severe lesion that affects the organ's function and can cause internal bleeding, liver failure, liver cancer, or sepsis. Chronic hepatitis B also leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
How it is diagnosed
The diagnosis is usually made after blood tests or scans done for another reason. The doctor clarifies symptoms, measures height, weight, and waist circumference, asks about alcohol, and may order additional blood tests and an ultrasound (ultrasound examination) of the abdomen to confirm fat accumulation, rule out other causes, and assess damage and concomitant conditions. According to WHO, physical examination, ultrasound, and elastography help assess the degree of fibrosis.
- Blood tests — as prescribed by the doctor.
- Abdominal ultrasound — to assess fat and other causes.
- Elastography — to assess fibrosis.
- Measurement of weight and waist circumference.
Prevention and when to get examined
A healthy diet, regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes per week), weight loss if overweight, limiting alcohol, and quitting smoking reduce fat accumulation in the liver. With fatty liver disease, a check-up is needed at least once a year, and tests — every 2–3 years. According to WHO, a hepatitis B test (HBsAg) is recommended for all pregnant women, partners and family members of infected people, healthcare workers, people who inject drugs, and people with suspected liver disease. The hepatitis B vaccine is usually given immediately after birth and protects almost 100%.
Call an ambulance immediately (103 or 112) if there is vomiting of blood, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, or severe chest pain.
The material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation.
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This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer