Signs & Symptoms of a Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a chronic liver condition that can cause scarring and inflammation of the liver. Fatty liver disease is common in people who abuse alcohol, but between 2 percent and 5 percent of Americans who don't drink any or drink very little alcohol also have the condition, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearninghouse. The condition develops when the liver stops effectively breaking down fats, causing them to build up in the organ. Many people with the condition are unaware they have it, but it can cause cirrhosis of the liver and progress to liver failure.

Abdominal Pain

• Some people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease will develop abdominal pain. The pain is usually felt in the upper right quadrant, where the liver is located. The pain is typically dull and uncomfortable, not sharp or severe.

Fatigue

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can cause fatigue or a general feeling of being unwell. These symptoms typically do not develop until after the disease has begun to progress. Additionally, fatigue and malaise are symptoms of many medical conditions and when experienced alone are not usually indicative of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Weight Loss

• Another symptom of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is unexplained weight loss. Similar to many other symptoms, though, weight loss is not usually noticeable until the disease has progressed or cirrhosis has started to develop.

  Cirrhosis is when healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue and the organ begins to malfunction. People with cirrhosis also can experience fluid retention, intestinal bleeding and, eventually, liver failure. However, not all cases of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease progress to the point of cirrhosis.