'Silent killer' disease that's killing 'twice as many Brits now than in 1991'
A deadly health condition is on the rise among Brits - and now kills roughly twice as many people as it did in 1991.
Liver disease is known as a 'silent killer', because it often develops with no symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. According to The British Liver Trust, more than 10,000 die from it each year - but seven in 10 people in the UK who have liver disease don't even know they have it. The British Liver Trust has confirmed that there has been a four-fold increase in liver disease related deaths in the last 50 years.
While the illness is most commonly associated with high alcohol consumption, there are also other causes that are often overlooked. Obesity is now understood to be a major contributor to the rise in liver problems among the UK population, and is the primary cause of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Fatty liver is caused by excessive fat deposits surrounding the organ. Dr Andrew Peter Holt, specialist hepatologist in the management of complex liver disease, recently told TopDoctors: "Few people appreciate that the recent rise in liver disease has very little to do with changes in alcohol consumption and a lot more to do with increasing levels of obesity and diabetes." Fatty liver is now in fact the most common cause of liver disease and it is estimated that about one in every four people in the UK have it.
There are not usually any symptoms of NAFLD in the early stages, and it is unlikely that you will know that you have it unless it is picked up during other medical tests, according to the NHS. It is typically diagnosed when a blood test called a liver function test produces an abnormal result and other liver conditions, such as hepatitis, have been ruled out.
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However, not all blood tests will detect NAFLD, and it is sometimes found by doctors during an ultrasound scan of the stomach. When it gets to its more advanced stages, it can lead to Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or fibrosis, which can in TURN cause life-threatening scarring or cancer. Cirrhosis causes severe and visible symptoms, such as yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes , itchy skin, and swelling in the legs, ankles, feet or stomach.
The best way to minimise your risk of liver disease is by keeping within a healthy weight and avoiding excessive, regular alcohol consumption. Trips to your doctor at least once a year will also help you pick up any problems early. Because NAFLD and NASH can occur without any symptoms, it is vital to occasionally have your liver checked if you are over the age of 40, or if you already suffer from some health issues caused by obesity, high blood pressure, or elevated cholesterol levels. Children and young people with an increased risk of NAFLD (those with Type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome) should have an ultrasound scan of their liver every thre years.
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