This Condition May Be Doing More Harm Than You Realize, but It’s Easy To Treat if Caught Early
Fatty liver disease is more common than you might think. Many people have this condition and don't even know it because it usually doesn't cause pain or obvious symptoms at first. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems and may even shorten your life. However, if you catch it early and take steps to manage the condition, you can protect your liver and your overall health.
How does fatty liver disease affect your health and your lifespan? Here are answers to common questions about this condition.
What is fatty liver disease?
Your liver helps clean your blood, digest food and store energy. But when it starts to store fat that doesn't belong there, it can get inflamed and damaged, resulting in fatty liver disease. There are two main types of this condition:
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – This is the most common type and isn't caused by drinking alcohol. It's linked to things like obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol.
- Alcohol-related fatty liver disease – This is caused by heavy drinking over time.
Both types can start out mild, but if the fat keeps building up, the liver can become scarred. That scarring is called cirrhosis, and it can lead to liver failure or even liver cancer.
Can fatty liver disease affect how long you live?
When fatty liver disease gets worse, it can cause long-term damage. People with advanced stages of the disease may have a shorter life span, especially if they don't get treated. Studies show that people with cirrhosis or liver cancer from fatty liver disease are more likely to die early than people without it.
But it's not just the liver that's at risk. Fatty liver disease is also tied to heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. That means even if your liver doesn't fail, the disease and the risk factors associated with it can still affect your overall health and raise your risk of other serious health conditions, such as heart attack, heart failure and stroke.
The good news is that many people with fatty liver disease can live long, healthy lives if the condition is caught early and managed well.
What should you do if you think you have fatty liver disease?
You can't usually feel fatty liver disease because it doesn't produce symptoms at its earlier stages. But your doctor can order blood tests or imaging like an ultrasound if there's any reason to suspect you have the condition.
If you do have it, there's no reason to panic because knowing you have it is half the battle. The main treatment includes making healthy lifestyle changes, so managing the condition is under your control. Here are some things you can do to help:
- Lose weight slowly and safely.
- Eat a balanced diet low in sugar and saturated fat.
- Get regular exercise.
- Avoid alcohol or drink only in moderation.
- Manage other health problems like diabetes or high cholesterol.
These changes can reduce fat in your liver, lower inflammation and even reverse damage that may have already occurred.
Talk to your doctor if you think you might be at risk for fatty liver disease. A simple check-up could help detect the disease so you can take steps to treat it and live a longer, healthier life.
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Date Last Reviewed: April 18, 2025
Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor
Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD
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