NHS Choices: Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease can strike without warning – it contributed to George Michael’s death – but little is known about the condition which one in three Britons are in the early stages of developing. Brain fog, forgetfulness and poor concentration are some of the symptoms which could indicate your risk.
Hepatic Encephalopathy, often called HE for short, is a disruption of brain function that is a serious complication of liver disease, said the Fatty Liver Foundation.
The site added: “If the liver is not removing ammonia from the blood because it has been damaged, the result is a build-up of toxins in the bloodstream that disrupt normal functions and can lead to confusion, coma and death.
“A question we should be asking is how many are suffering from liver disease rather than the mental illness we assume when we see odd behaviour, but those are the critical cases.
“More broadly, what about people who have just a little rogue ammonia?
“How many of us dismiss failures of memory or confusion to just an ageing brain when it is really a bit of toxic poisoning?”
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What is hepatic encephalopathy?
Hepatic encephalopathy is a decline in brain function that occurs as a result of severe liver disease.
Hepatic encephalopathy can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
In some cases, a person with hepatic encephalopathy may become unresponsive and slip into a coma.
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Symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy
- Difficulty thinking
- Personality changes
- Poor concentration
- Problems with handwriting or loss of other small hand movements
- Confusion
- Forgetfulness
- Poor judgment
- A musty or sweet breath odour
How to check if you have fatty liver disease
If you experience any symptoms such as brain fog, poor judgement or forgetfulness, its important to speak to your healthcare professional.
Symptoms experienced alongside your medical history can sometimes be enough to diagnose hepatic encephalopathy.
A liver function test checks for any raised enzyme levels.
If there is an increase in enzymes it normally indicates there is stress on the liver which could indicate a risk of fatty liver disease.
Fatty liver disease risk factors
“We are facing a liver disease epidemic,” says British Liver Trust chief executive officer Pamela Healy.
“Thirty years ago, it was very rare for liver units to admit people in their 20s with liver cirrhosis but now it is quite common for people this young to die from the disease.
“The liver is just as vital an organ as the heart, but people often fail to appreciate the importance of keeping it healthy. There are also lots of myths surrounding it.
“For example, many people believe you need to be an alcoholic to develop liver disease, whereas one in five of us are drinking at a level that puts our lives at risk.
“Many also fail to realise that being ¬overweight is a major risk factor.
“It’s vital we alert people of all ages to the risk factors so they can make simple lifestyle changes.”
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