You may have heard of Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and are wondering as to what it actually means. Well, MASLD is a very common disorder faced by many people. It refers to a group of conditions where there is a build-up of excess fat in the liver of people who drink little or no alcohol. Yes, you heard that right! Not consuming alcohol or consuming even a little bit has no role in this problem.
One of the most common forms of MASLD is a fatty liver which is not a serious condition. However, it definitely is not normal to have fat in the liver and can be serious if adequate care and consultation is not taken. Also, some people suffer from a much serious form known as Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) that stems from MASLD. What exactly happens to people with MASH? People who suffer with this condition need to be very careful and seek treatment as it may lead to severe liver scarring and cirrhosis. This happens when the liver faces substantial damage, and the liver cells are gradually replaced by scar tissue.
Prevalence: MASLD in India 2020
Given our lifestyle, there are many factors that lead to MASLD. According to recent studies from the Indian subcontinent, the prevalence of Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in India is seen among 9–32% in the general population. As per the studies undertaken, it has been established that hypertension, type II diabetes, smoking, obesity, and dyslipidaemia are significantly associated with MASLD.
It is not yet clear to experts as to why some people accumulate fat in the liver while others do not. But what is known is that MASLD and MASH are both linked to the following:
Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease causes immense distress to those suffering from this ailment. And to add to it, the above-mentioned problems together appear to stimulate the deposit of fat in the liver. In some case, the excess fat acts as a toxin to liver cells. This causes liver inflammation and MASH, which might lead to a build-up of a much bigger problem which is scar tissue in the liver.
Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Symptoms
NAFDL often does not show any symptoms, but if it does, here are a few signs people may experience:
Since MASLD causes no symptoms in most cases, it often comes to light only when tests are done for completely different reasons that point at this condition. Various other MASLD tests are then performed to know its severity.
For people who suffer from MASH or advanced scarring, might face the following symptoms:
If one faces any of these symptoms, they must immediately seek medical attention to avoid delay in treatment.
If an individual has MASLD without any other medical problems, he or she won’t need any special treatment. Which is a good thing, isn’t it? But one has to be mindful and not aggravate the situation. By simply making some lifestyle changes and healthy choices the problem can be overcome. Doing this can help control and sometimes even reverse the fat build-up in the liver. So, what should one do?
If proper care is taken, the condition won’t advance but simply get better. This means treatment of Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease will not really be needed.
We are all aware that our intake is what determines our health. Eating healthy and knowing what to avoid is extremely vital for people dealing with MASLD. So, what are the foods to avoid if you have MASLD? Here is the list:
Along with a healthy diet, physical activity is recommended as it can be an effective way to decrease liver fat.
There have been numerous studies that have proven that engaging in endurance exercise or resistance training many times a week can greatly reduce the amount of fat stored in liver cells, and this is regardless of whether weight loss occurs or not. All you need to do is pick a suitable time during the day, and exercise. It’s that simple!
Whether you exercise for 30 minutes or 60, it will to an extend help lower the fat levels. It is also said that high-intensity interval training proves to be beneficial. And even lower-intensity exercise can be effective at targeting liver fat.
Perform exercises that you like to do. In this way, you can set goals and work towards achieving them. Exercising does not just have its positive effects on reducing the fat in your liver but is also significantly beneficial for your overall health.
Physical Exercise on MASLD has been proven to show amazing results. Whether you do endurance exercises, strength training or even high/low intensity workouts, they all can help keep your liver healthy.
So, what are you going to do about MASLD? It’s treatable and now we know that. Simple changes in our routine, food, exercise can help every person battle numerous problems, so why not start today?