Extreme liver fibrosis is known as liver cirrhosis. In this condition, the liver which is otherwise a soft organ becomes quite hard and starts functioning poorly. Patients can go on to develop liver failure in which there is development of jaundice (yellow eyes), generalized weakness, loss of muscle mass, accumulation of fluid in the belly […]
Individuals who have multiple metabolic risk factors such as combination of obesity with diabetes and/or high blood pressure or cholesterol are at higher risk of progressive liver disease. There are genetic risk factors as well and therefore individuals with a history of similar form of liver disease in close family members are at higher risk.
This is the most important differentiation to be made when a patient seeks medical consultation for fatty liver. Simple fatty liver usually does not progress to advanced liver disease while NASH may progress over several years to more advanced forms of liver disease such as liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Advanced NASH is also a risk […]
Fatty liver usually develops in individuals who are overweight, and in those with diabetics. Even people with mild obesity and especially abdominal obesity are prone to develop fatty liver. Fatty liver is especially common in those with a condition called metabolic syndrome. Patient with metabolic syndrome usually have a combination of one of more of […]
Simple fatty liver without liver inflammation (also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver or NAFL). This is generally a benign condition that usually does not progress to advanced forms of liver disease. Fatty liver with liver inflammation (also known as non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis or NASH). In this condition, the excess fat in the liver causes inflammation of […]
Fatty liver disease is a medical condition in which there is accumulation of excess fat in the liver. Fatty liver has been well known to be associated with excess alcohol consumption. But Fatty Liver is also extremely common in individuals who do not drink alcohol or drink little alcohol. This form of fatty liver is […]
A colonoscopy is an examination of the inside of the large intestine, which includes the entire colon, rectum and anus. It is a type of endoscopy, in which a flexible tube with a camera at one end (colonoscope) is inserted into your body. The colonoscope passes through your anus and rectum into your colon. This is […]
Screening involves direct visualization of the inner lining of the colon to detect polyps. This can be done either by colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Non-invasive techniques such as virtual colonoscopy using a CT scan can also visualize the colon lining. Other colon cancer screening tests involve stool analysis for presence of occult blood which may indirectly […]
Ninety percent of all colon cancers start as polyps. Therefore, the best way to prevent colon cancer is to look for precancerous polyps inside the colon and remove them before they progress to cancer. Colorectal cancer screening tests are designed to find precancerous polyps. Screening also detects cancers at an earlier stage when complete cure […]
Most colon polyps and early colorectal cancer do not have any symptoms, which is why screening is recommended. However, when symptoms do occur, they may include:
