Liver problems in the Mumbai swell

Doctors have found that the incidence of liver failure is on a rise among patients suffering from Fatty Liver Disease (FLD) as opposed to patients with Hepatitis B and C, which is another grave medical concern.

According to Dr Samir Shah, head of the hepatology, liver intensive care and transplant unit at Global Hospital, "Fatty liver is increasingly becoming the reason behind liver failure disease. This is especially true in urban cities such as Mumbai."

Dr Shah has observed that nearly 50% of liver problem cases that he gets are of patients suffering from a fatty liver. He says, “Liver is the most important part of the human body which helps with protein production, blood clotting, cholesterol maintaining and other important things. In patients who come to us for evaluation of liver transplant, 50% had a fatty liver disease."

It is shocking to note that while many believe that a fatty liver is related to alcohol consumption, 60% of cases are that of non-alcoholics, as revealed by Dr Shah.

Further, alcohol has always been considered the root cause of a damaged liver, but even teetotallers who are overweight, with high abdominal obesity or waist circumference have been complaining of liver diseases, as jointly said by gastroenterologists and liver surgeons.

Experts say that the reasons behind non-alcoholic fatty liver can be many. Take for instance obesity, excessive junk food diet, lack of exercise, diabetes and high cholesterol among other lifestyle conditions.

Liver surgeon Dr Rakesh Rai Mulund-based Fortis Hospital says, "The kind of lifestyle people live these days is increasingly leading to them suffering from fatty liver disease. And this is only going to increase if not controlled."

The health experts have further claimed that the incidence of liver diseases in non-alcoholics can turn into an epidemic in the years to come, if their improper lifestyle is not corrected soon. Further, a rapid increase in the number of liver cancer patients is already being seen in urban cities, mostly due to lifestyle-related problems.

Dr Pravin Rathi, head of gastroenterology, BYL Nair hospital and Bombay hospital said, “Obesity is more dangerous than alcohol. Globalisation, westernisation has led to a rise in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Since obesity and diabetes are correlated with fatty liver, there is an upward trend to the latter. NAFLD is mainly increasing due to wrong dietary habits and high intake of fats, carbohydrates and less consumption of proteins.”