How your doctor in Arcadia, CA, can help you enjoy a healthy life

When you have fatty liver, it means you have too much fat in your liver cells. Fatty liver is a common problem, especially in more developed countries, with a high-fat diet. Fatty liver is also caused by chronic alcohol use. Fortunately, your doctor can help diagnose and treat fatty liver, so you can enjoy a healthy life. Dr. Sunny Lo at SoCal Digestive Wellness in Arcadia, CA, provides a wide range of gastroenterology services, including diagnosis and treatment of fatty liver.

You are at risk of developing fatty liver if you:

• Are overweight or obese
• Have diabetes
• Drink excessive amounts of alcohol
• Store fat in your abdomen

There are additional risk factors for fatty liver, including if you have:

• Elevated cholesterol
• Elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood
• Metabolic syndrome
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Sleep apnea
• An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• An underactive pituitary gland (hypopituitarism)

When you have fatty liver, you may experience:

• Fatigue and malaise
• Pain in the upper right abdomen
• Abdominal swelling (ascites)
• Enlarged blood vessels just beneath your skin
• Red palms
• Yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice)

There are several lifestyle modifications your doctor may recommend to treat fatty liver, including:

• Losing weight by eating fewer calories
• Eating a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains 
• Exercising at least 30 minutes each day most days of the week
• Managing your diabetes with medication and diet
• Lowering your cholesterol with medication and diet
• Eliminating alcohol consumption

Your doctor can help you with lifestyle modification including nutritional counseling, developing an exercise program, medication to control diabetes and cholesterol, and more. To learn more about the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of fatty liver, talk with an expert. Call Dr. Sunny Lo at SoCal Digestive Wellness in Arcadia, CA. You can reach him in the office by calling (818) 659-5887, so call today.