Susan Avallone and Dr. Molakatalla speak on Liver Health Awareness Month
Gardner’s Prevention Coordinator Veronika Patty had both Avallone and Molakatalla as guests during a segment aired on a local Gardner cable show. Listen to the AUDIO on any device, CLICK PLAY.
SAVE A LIFE – READ THIS ARTICLE and LISTEN TO THE PROGRAM!
Gardner Magazine is grateful to both for providing us with valuable information to help save lives in our coverage area with the following written by Dr. Phani Molakatala and RN Susan Avalione.
Do You Know About Fatty Liver Disease? Here’s What You Need to Know
Did you know that 4.5 million adults in the U.S. are living with known liver disease? That’s about 1 in 50 Americans. Liver disease is actually the 9th leading cause of death; but many people don’t feel symptoms right away. As a result, liver diseases kill about 33,000 Americans by causing cancer, each year. One major concern is Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which affects an estimated 80-100 million Americans—though only a few have been diagnosed. The newer term for this condition is MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease). October is National Liver Awareness Month, and we want to help you understand the importance of liver health. The liver is our largest internal organ and plays a crucial role in keeping our body healthy. It helps break down nutrients from food, stores energy, filters toxins, helps with blood clotting, and fights infections. Unfortunately, while doing all this important work, the liver can be exposed to a variety of harmful substances and diseases. Fatty liver disease or MASLD is often caused by excess body weight, diabetes, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol/lipid levels. Although it’s more common in adults, it’s becoming increasingly prevalent among children and teenagers. In fact, it’s now the most common liver disease in children in the U.S., and its rate has more than doubled in the past 20 years. In severe cases, fatty liver disease can lead to inflammation and scarring of the liver, a condition known as cirrhosis. This process can take decades, and symptoms typically do not appear until it’s too late. Once the liver fails, a transplant may be the only option, and the number of liver transplants needed for liver failure is comparable to those for hepatitis C.
The good news is that early diagnosis can help reverse fatty liver disease, even if there is some scarring. Testing options include blood tests, special ultrasounds or MRI scans, and sometimes a liver biopsy. Once diagnosed, lifestyle changes are crucial. This includes gradually losing weight, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables (Mediterranean diet being one option), reducing processed carbohydrate intake, and exercising regularly. Medications may also be an option in certain cases. The key takeaway is that liver disease can affect anyone, even those who drink little or no alcohol. Many people don’t show symptoms; so getting screened is vital. Please talk to your doctor. Early diagnosis is essential to create an individualized treatment plan and prevent serious complications like liver failure. For more information on liver health, prevention, and resources, visit the American Liver Foundation’s website, CLICK HERE. American Liver Foundation . You can also take a simple liver health quiz, to see if you’re at risk and learn what steps to take next CLICK HERE. by visiting .Take control of your liver health today—your future self will thank you!
-Susan Avallone, MSN, RN, NCSN-E and Phani Molakatalla MD MPH, Gastroenterology physician