Brits warned they are likely to have this 'biggest killer' condition and not even know it

More and more Brits suffer from Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) without even knowing it, doctors warn. The condition is caused by a build-up of fat in your liver and while it isn't triggered by alcohol, its consumption can make it worse.

The British Liver Trust fears that many people don’t realise that the liver ‘is just as vital an organ as the heart’ and fail to understand the importance of keeping it healthy.

The myth that you have to be an alcoholic to develop liver disease doesn’t help either as in reality ‘one in five of us are drinking at a level that puts our liver at risk’, the charity warns.

They add that even being slightly overweight - not necessarily obese - makes it a lot more likely for a person to develop the deadly condition.

Also, these are hidden fatty liver disease symptomsyou shouldn't ignore.

What is Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

As Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is skyrocketing amongst Brits, there are still many people who have never heard of the condition. It is in fact a ‘silent killer’ and a catch-all term for a number of ailments triggered by a build-up of fat in your liver.

While the condition isn't caused by alcohol, drinking can make it worse.

When it merges with other liver problems such as infections or excessive - above the recommended 14 units a week - alcohol consumption, it puts enormous pressure on the organ and makes liver disease 'the biggest killer of adults in their 30s and 40s'.

In 2016, NAFLD was widely mentioned in the media after a coroner listed it as one of the reasons behind pop star George Michael’s death at just 53.

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What triggers liver disease?

The British Liver Trust chief executive officer Pamela Healy says many don’t realise that the liver is just as vital an organ as the heart and underestimate the importance of keeping it healthy.

People aren’t aware of the risk factors that contribute to developing this deadly condition and are misled by the myths.

Healy said:

For example, many people believe you need to be an alcoholic to develop liver disease, whereas one in five of us is drinking at a level that puts our liver at risk. Many also fail to realise that being overweight is a major risk factor.

Liver disease is mostly preventable, with the organ being highly resilient and the only one in the human body that can regenerate.

A healthy liver should contain little or no fat but poor diet and extra weight mean that up to one in three people in the UK is now in the early stages of NAFLD. They already have certain amounts of fat in their liver which may go unnoticed, but the rise in its level leads to the risk of high blood pressure, kidney complaints and diabetes.

The further build-up of fat may still cause no severe symptoms, but left unchecked it can transform into non-alcohol steatohepatitis (NASH) where the liver becomes inflamed. Over time, it can scar both blood vessels and the liver preventing it from functioning normally.

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⋙ The serious effect this popular food has on your liver revealed by study

⋙ Fatty liver disease: The hidden symptoms you should know about

Sources used:

- Birmingham Live: 'Warning over 'silent killer' that a third of Brits could have without them knowing'