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Worrying signs of a fatty liver

Stock Image Of Man With Fatty Liver. Credit / Shutterstock

Fatty liver is when there is too much fat in your liver. It’s common, particularly in people who have diabetes and are overweight.

Although it might not cause any symptoms, it can lead to significant health problems. Making changes to your lifestyle is key to preventing and improving the condition.

The liver is the body’s main organ for processing food and waste materials.

A healthy liver contains very little or no fat. If you drink too much alcohol, or eat too much food, your body deals with this excess by turning some of the calories into fat. This fat is then stored in liver cells.

When fat makes up more than 5% to 10% of the total weight of your liver, you have fatty liver.

Fatty liver is becoming more common as people eat more added sugars and added fats, per Health Direct.

What are the symptoms of fatty liver disease?
Fatty liver disease usually doesn’t cause symptoms. People who have symptoms may:

Feel tired or generally unwell
Have pain in the upper right part of their abdomen
Lose weight

Signs that you may have more serious fatty liver disease include:

Yellow eyes and skin (jaundice)
Bruising
Dark urine
Swollen tummy
Vomiting blood
Black stools (poos)
Itchy skin

See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

What causes fatty liver disease?
Fatty liver is usually due to a combination of factors over a long period of time, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The most common causes of fatty liver are:

Being obese or overweight, especially around the abdomen (tummy)
Having type 2 diabetes mellitus or insulin resistance
Having high blood cholesterol or high triglycerides
Drinking too much alcohol

Less common causes are:

An underactive thyroid
Certain medicines
Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Some people can also get fatty liver because of complications that develop late in pregnancy.

There are 2 main types of fatty liver disease:

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease
Alcohol-related fatty liver disease

These have different causes.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease
Metabolic associated fatty liver disease is the most common type of fatty liver disease. This has also been known as:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis

This type of fatty liver disease is caused by:

Being overweight or obese
Not being active enough

Alcohol-related fatty liver disease
Medline Plus explains that Alcohol-related fatty liver disease is caused by drinking too much alcohol over long periods.

You are at risk of fatty liver disease related to alcohol if you:

Drink more than 10 standard drinks a week
Binge drink (have more than 4 standard drinks in a day)

When should I see my doctor?
Fatty liver often does not cause obvious symptoms. So, you may not know you have it until a routine test shows signs of a liver problem.

How is fatty liver disease diagnosed?
Your doctor will diagnose fatty liver by talking to you first, then examining you.

You may be asked to have a blood test called a liver function test. This will check the health of your liver. You may also be asked to have a scan such as:

An ultrasound
An MRI scan

If the tests show you have fatty liver, you may need some other tests to look further into your health.

Depending on the results of the tests, your doctor may suggest that you see a gastroenterologist (specialist doctor). In severe cases, a specialist may organise a biopsy of your liver to confirm the diagnosis. This will also help them assess how severe the disease is.

How is fatty liver disease treated?
There are no medicines to treat fatty liver disease.

Management involves making changes to your lifestyle. This can improve the condition and even reverse it.

If you have metabolic associated fatty liver disease, you will probably be advised to:

Follow a healthy diet and avoid sugar
Lose weight
Exercise regularly
Control your blood sugar
Treat high cholesterol if you have it
Avoid medicines that can affect your liver
Drink no or very little alcohol, and quit smoking

If your fatty liver is caused by alcohol, then the most important thing to do is give up alcohol. This will prevent you from developing a more serious condition.

Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian, drug and alcohol counsellor or specialist for further information.

Can fatty liver disease be prevented?
The way to prevent metabolic associated fatty liver disease is to follow the same lifestyle advice given to people who already have the condition, including:

Eating a healthy diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats
Maintaining a healthy weight
Drinking no or very little alcohol
Being physically active on most days of the week

If you haven’t been exercising regularly, speak with your doctor first.

Complications of fatty liver disease
In many people, fatty liver by itself doesn’t cause too many problems at first.

It can worsen slowly over time. The extra fat in the liver causes liver inflammation, which eventually leads to scarring (fibrosis) of the liver. It may also lead to more serious chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Some people who develop severe cirrhosis of the liver need to have a liver transplant. People with fatty liver have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Make sure you stay aware of the signs and symptoms, and seek out the advice of a medical professional if you notice any changes.

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At 83, Miriam Margolyes predicts she doesn’t have ‘long to live’

Miriam Margolyes, the charismatic and much-adored actor best known for her role as Professor Sprout in Harry Potter, recently made a heartbreaking revelation about her health, sharing that she hasn’t “got long to live.”

Only one month after she was admitted to hospital with a chest infection, Miriam Margoyles appeared nude on the cover of British Vogue for Pride month.

“I like my face,” she told the outlet. “I think my face is kind and warm and open and smiley. But I hate my body. [And I have] a drooping belly, little twisted legs. I’m not thrilled with that.”

The legendary British-Australian actor, known for her unforgettable roles and unapologetic candor, also discussed how her poor diet has had a negative impact on her declining health.

“I’ve limited my life because of my longing for fudge or chopped liver, cheesecake,” the 83-year-old actor told the outlet. “All these absurdities. I shouldn’t have been so greedy. I should have been stronger.”

Later speaking with Elizabeth Day on the How to Fail Podcast, Margoyles shared how she failed: “The one thing I have not conquered and should have conquered is my weight. I am a blubber mass. I am fat,” the Age of Innocence star said.

She continued, “It’s such a defeat. A cream bun, a chocolate, a helping of chopped liver is more important than your health and aesthetic presentation?”

And her health has been in steep decline over the past few years.

Cow valve

After undergoing a transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure in 2023, Margolyes has been reflecting on mortality and the time she has left.

But in true fashion, the actor remains as sharp and humorous as ever, embracing life with her characteristic resilience.

“I’m still a bit of a child,” says #MiriamMargolyes. “I can’t resist naughtiness.” In #BritishVogue’s July 2023 issue, the actor is at her very best – cheeky, wonderfully candid, and an absolute breath of fresh air. https://t.co/BF9nqdsNdL pic.twitter.com/sLPtbGBgnj

— British Vogue (@BritishVogue) June 13, 2023

“I now have a cow’s heart,” she told Jessie and Lennie Ware on the Table Manners podcast in October 2023.

“Well, not the whole heart. But I’ve had an aortic valve replaced with a cow’s aortic valve,” explained the Age of Innocence star, predicting that she would soon need a wheelchair to get around.

“I have a bad back. I’m probably going to be in a wheelchair soon. And you know, you have to come to terms with what life throws at you,” she said.

She wasn’t far off.

Registered disabled

In addition to heart disease, the stage and screen actor is also facing mobility challenges due to spinal stenosis, a condition that has significantly impacted her daily life.

In a recent interview with Radio Times, Margoyles – who’s registered “disabled” – admitted she now relies on a mobility scooter to get around and is coming to terms with the reality of her declining physical abilities.

However she’s facing it all with humor and honesty: “When I started kind of failing physically, I remember saying to directors and producers, please don’t show me clambering out of a car or climbing upstairs on my hands and knees,” Margoyles, who voiced the lovable sheepdog in the 1995 film Babe, told the outlet.

Beneath the humor, the actor admits she finds the physical constraints of old age “limiting and depressing” and says though she wants to “play parts that aren’t just sitting in wheelchairs,” she’s “not strong enough.”

Financial fears

While Margolyes has always been known for her confidence and outspoken nature, she admits that her declining health brings financial concerns.

“I’m worried that I won’t have enough money for carers when I finally get paralysed or whatever it is that’s going to happen to me. I’m saving up cash so that I can pay people to look after me and my partner,” she said, referring to Heather Sutherland, who she’s been in a relationship with since 1968.

Speaking with Radio Times, she continued, “We don’t have children, so I need to make sure I’m going to be looked after in the way that I’ve become accustomed.”

‘Going to die’

Adored for her unfiltered and often hilarious takes on life, Margolyes doesn’t shy away from discussing death, and rather than fear it, she seems to be at peace with what lies ahead.

“When you know that you haven’t got long to live – and I’m probably going to die within the next five or six years, if not before,” the Call the Midwife told the Telegraph. “I’m loath to leave behind performing. It’s such a joy.”

While spinal stenosis and heart surgery have slowed her down physically, Margoyles’ spirit remains unbreakable. And if there’s one thing we can all learn from her, it’s that facing challenges head-on, with humor and courage, is the best way forward.

Please share your best wishes to this iconic actor in the comments section below and then share this story so her other fans can do the same!

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Tragic Valentine’s Day accident takes woman’s soulmate

What was meant to be a romantic evening turned into a nightmare for Carmen Gonzalez, who is now left grappling with the devastating loss of her partner, 65-year-old Richard Boerger.

The couple, who had spent the past eight years rebuilding their lives together after personal tragedies, had no idea their Valentine’s Day walk would be their last.

On the evening of February 14, Gonzalez and Boerger were strolling hand in hand through their Covina neighborhood in California, cherishing the simple joy of being together.

As they walked along the 830 block of West Edna Place around 7:30 p.m., tragedy struck—literally.

”I didn’t see any lights, I didn’t hear any noise that would alert that there’s a car behind me,” Gonzalez told ABC7. ”The next thing I know is that his voice stopped.”

In an instant, everything changed. A vehicle barreled toward them, striking both.

Boerger was thrown into the curb, his head colliding violently with the concrete. Gonzalez lost consciousness on impact. When she came to, the horrific reality unfolded before her eyes.

”I looked back and I see his head against the curb and severe head injury,” she said.

Was going to be a grandpa

Boerger, the man she called the love of her life, lay mortally wounded. Emergency responders rushed him to the hospital, but the injuries were too severe.

He was pronounced dead shortly after.

The driver, whose identity has not been publicly released, remained at the scene.

According to ABC7, authorities are investigating the incident, but Gonzalez is left with more questions than answers.

”I’m heartbroken. This person I loved so much. He was my partner and we had a lot of goals for our future,” she shared through tears. ”He was going to be a grandfather next month.”

Their love story was one of resilience.

Both had suffered immense losses before finding each other — Boerger had lost his wife and daughter, while Gonzalez had endured the pain of losing her own daughter in a car accident. Together, they found solace in each other, building a life filled with love, travel, and quiet moments like the walk they took that fateful night.

Now, Gonzalez is determined to get justice for Boerger.

”I would like a full-on investigation. I want to know why this happened,” she said.

After the tragic incident, Boerger’s sister took to Facebook and wrote a loving tribute to her brother, showing how cherished he was.

As she mourns, she hopes their story will serve as a wake-up call, a reminder that safety on the roads can mean the difference between life and death.

For Gonzalez, Valentine’s Day will never be the same — it will forever mark the day she lost the man who made her believe in love again. Rest in peace, Richard!

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Detail in Martha Stewart photo has everyone talking

Marta Stewart is, on the whole, a popular figure with fans and followers from all over the world.

Yet she’s come under fire for a recent social media post during a trip to Greenland that many are branding “tone-deaf”.

The 82-year-old was widely praised earlier this year after posing for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in May, but her most recent Instagram offering has failed to inspire the same sort of positivity.

On Tuesday, August 29, Stewart uploaded a photo of herself from a cruise that saw her take in the east coast of Greenland. The picture – one of several – shows the businesswoman and TV personality enjoying a cocktail, along with the caption:

“End of the first zodiac cruise from @swanhelleniccruises into a very beautiful fjord on the east coast of greenland. We actually captured a small iceberg for our cocktails tonight.”

Harmless though Stewart almost certainly intended her post to be, it soon evoked the ire of followers who believed her using of the “small iceberg” for her drink was in bad taste.

Before long, Stewart’s comments field was filled with people hitting out at the fact that she’d referenced a small iceberg when the “ice caps are melting”.

“Martha the ice caps are melting don’t put them in your drink,” one Instagram user wrote.

Another added: “I generally love Martha and the excesses of her life because he’s about beautiful gardens, homes, and food, but wealthy white people drinking their iceberg cocktails while the planet is in flames is a bit tone deaf.“

“So as the climate warms due to the profits of a couple thousand people, billionaires vacation to the melting icebergs, scoop them up and use them to keep their cocktails cold. That sounds like a line from a dystopian novel. Can’t make this shit up lol,” a third quipped.

“Global warming and melting ice caps but we need glacier ice for cocktails?! Talk about tone def. Been a fan for years but I’ve seen enough caviar lately as I struggle to buy groceries that I’m out,” said a fourth.

Back in May, Stewart made history as she confidently posed in daring swimsuits for cover of Sports Illustrated. The then-81-year-old also spilled the rigorous wellness routine she implemented beforehand.

“I didn’t starve myself, but I didn’t eat any bread or pasta for a couple of months,” Stewart mentioned during an appearance on the Today show.

“I went to Pilates every other day, and that was great; I’m still going to Pilates every other day ’cause it’s so great. And I just, I live a clean life anyway – good diet and good exercise and healthy skincare and all of that stuff.”