From arthritis to nausea: 6 uncommon symptoms of Fatty liver

Fatty liver is one of the most common and often overlooked health conditions today, especially with modern lifestyle marked by high sugar intake, processed foods and even inactive lifestyle.

Fatty liver, also known as hepatic steatosis, this condition occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver, and early stages may show little to no symptoms. The body is the indicator of what is going on inside the liver, if it is thriving or under any stress with subtle cues. If left unmanaged, it can progress to more serious liver issues, including non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), or even cirrhosis. Below are six potential signs ranging from inflammatory disease such as arthritis to nausea, that may indicate fatty liver.

Nausea or digestive discomfort

One of the common and early symptoms of liver dysfunction is nausea, and typically after eating fatty meals or heavy ones. A sluggish liver struggles to produce enough bile, a substance crucial for digesting fats, leading to bloating, abdominal discomfort and even vomiting. This usually happens when the liver cannot filter the toxins from the body, it can be caused by constipation and stomach related issues as well.

A research published in PubMed Central under the title "Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease", shows the Clinical manifestations of patients With NAFLD, Nausea was present in 13.6% of respondents and for bloating as digestive discomfort, 41% had severe bloating.

Joint pain and stiffness (arthritis-like symptoms)

Fatty liver is often linked to systematic inflammation, which can contribute to joint pain, accompanied by swelling or stiffness, symptoms that mimic arthritis. This connection is especially seen in individuals who have metabolic syndrome, or even when there is liver fat accumulation. A research published in frontiers of immunology, states that people who have arthritis, like rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, often have a higher risk of liver problems, such as fatty liver.

This happens due to bodily inflammation, metabolic issues and arthritis medicines, that can affect the liver significantly.

Heartburn and acid reflux

People with fatty liver often face the issue of heartburn and acid reflux, particularly after heavy meals, showing that the liver function is impaired, the digestions slows down, increasing pressure on the abdomen, leading the acid back to the esophagus. Heartburn can also be caused by other underlying issues but these symptoms are persistent with liver dysfunction, as indicated in a research done by National Library of Medicine, titled, "Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increases risk for gastroesophageal reflux symptoms", it shows that people with NAFLD are more likely to experience GERD like heartburn or regurgitation.

While obesity and metabolic syndrome contribute to this, NAFLD itself is an independent risk factor for GERD, highlighting the need to consider liver health when managing reflux symptoms.

Constant fatigue or malaise

Our body needs to be perfectly healthy, in order for it to produce more energy and proper detoxification of the body. When the liver is typically (tired) overwhelmed with harmful toxins, it might experience fatigue, weakness or a general sense of being unwell (malaise), a tiredness that does not go away with rest or 8 hour sleep, affecting our mood and productivity. A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, says fatigue is a common and persistent symptom in people with NAFLD and NASH.

It involves both mental or physical components, linked to energy regulation and gut-liver-brain axis.

Feeling of fullness

A mild to moderate pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, near where the liver is located, below the rib cage, this pain is often associated with liver enlargement, due to fat accumulation. It may feel like a dull pain, sense of fullness, especially after eating. It is not always painful, but this discomfort, is worth evaluating with a doctor, if these conditions persist. In a report published by Fatty Liver Foundation, it is stated that many people with NAFLD, or NASH experience right upper quadrant pain.

This pain can range from mild discomfort to sharp, shooting one. Though, this is not possible for routine tests to deter, but delaying its diagnoses will delay any treatment of fatty liver disease.

Jaundice (advanced stages)

In the later stages, fatty liver can impair the liver's ability to process bilirubin and produce clotting factors, leading to yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice),and increased bruising or bleeding. A study published in National Institute of health, says that after abdominal pain (40%), jaundice is the second most common and progressed symptom of 36.25%.