The British Liver Trust says you may not show any symptoms for many years if you have NAFLD. Nonetheless, sometimes people can experience encephalopathy. This can be marked by periods of confusion, forgetting things, mood changes or poor judgement. The National Institute of Health explains encephalopathy is a term for any diffuse disease of the brain that alters brain function or structure.
The Trust also lists a number of other signs. These include:
- Tiredness
- Fatigue or a general feeling of lethargy or having no energy
- Discomfort on the upper right side of your tummy (where your liver is).It says if you develop encephalopathy or any of the following symptoms tell a doctor straight away:Yellowness of the eyes and skin (jaundice) – this may be harder to notice if you have black or brown skin
- Bruising easily
- Dark urine
- Swelling of the tummy area (ascites)
- Vomiting blood
- Dark black tarry poo
- Itching skin.
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The NHS says if cirrhosis – the most advanced stage – develops, you can get more severe symptoms.
These signs include yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, itchy skin, and swelling in the legs, ankles, feet or tummy.
The health body says: “See a GP urgently or call 111 if you have any of these symptoms and have a liver condition.”
It adds: “There’s currently no specific medication for NAFLD, but making healthy lifestyle choices can help.”
The NHS explains there is not currently any medicine that can treat NAFLD, but various medicines can be useful in managing the problems associated with the condition.
For example, your doctor may recommend medicine to treat high blood pressure, treat high cholesterol, treat type 2 diabetes and treat obesity.
It says try to have a balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, protein and carbohydrates, but low in fat, sugar and salt.The health body also advises that people aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, such as walking or cycling, a week.
It says all types of exercise can help improve NAFLD, even if you do not lose weight.