Fatty liver disease: The colour of your poo could be a sign – ‘seek urgent attention’

Liver disease: NHS Doctor talks about link with alcohol

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Since the 1970s, Liver disease deaths have risen by over 400 percent and according to the British Liver Trust, “Every day, over 40 people die” from the condition in the UK. However, the British Liver Trust goes on to say that, “90 percent of liver disease is preventable” and the reason many people die of the condition is because the condition is diagnosed when it is too late for lifestyle changes or intervention. It is the main cause of death for those aged between 35 and 49. Spotting the symptoms then is crucial to not just improving someone’s life but saving it as well.

One of the first places to look for symptoms is the colour of your faeces (your poo).

If it is dark black and tarry, this may indicate the presence of fatty liver disease.

It won’t only be your poo that will be affected, your urine will be affected too.

Dark urine has been identified as a symptom of liver disease.

These aren’t the only symptoms of liver disease, however.

According to the British Liver Trust, these are the others to look out for.
• Yellowness of the eyes and skin
• Bruising easily
• Swelling of your lower abdominal area
• Vomiting blood
• Periods of confusion or poor memory
• Itching skin

Early symptoms include tiredness and discomfort in the upper right area of your abdomen, where your liver is situated.

Liver disease can be caused by a number of factors.

One of the primary factors is an unhealthy diet.

A diet consisting of too much sugar and alcohol will increase the levels of fat in your liver and your chances of developing the condition.

A subsequent result of an unhealthy diet will be weight gain, another factor that can put you at risk of other conditions.

Amongst this is type 2 diabetes.

Those with the condition are more likely to develop liver disease.

Another risk factor is an underactive thyroid; the thyroid produces hormones that help regulate the body’s metabolism.

An underactive thyroid can lead to weight gain and therefore increase your risk.

Liver disease doesn’t just affect those who are overweight, you can develop liver disease even if you’re a healthy weight.

The final main risk factor is insulin resistance. Here, the cells in your muscles, fat and liver can’t easily take up glucose from the blood.

This impairs the ability of insulin to suppress lipolysis, one of the processes through which fat is broken down.

There is no agreed medical treatment for liver disease, but improving your diet, increasing how much you exercise and losing weight will help the liver to recover.

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