As of: March 18, 2024, 12:09 p.m
By: Natalie Hull-Deichsel
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Fatty liver disease is common today and yet rarely noticed.
Even the resulting high blood pressure is often not recognized - with fatal consequences.
In addition to alcohol-related fatty liver disease (AFLD, Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease), there is the increasingly common non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease).
Both are among the most common liver diseases in Germany.
In fact, one in three adults and one in three overweight children are now affected - and the trend is rising.
In contrast to alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is primarily caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, poor diet, and lack of exercise and sleep.
NAFLD particularly affects people with diabetes and those who are very overweight.
Anyone who lives with a fatty liver - often unnoticed - has a higher risk of developing severe liver inflammation and liver cancer as well as suffering a stroke or heart attack.
Anyone who has high blood pressure increases the risk of stroke and heart attack many times over.
At the same time, high blood pressure can be life-threatening in connection with liver disease.
Blood pressure too high: If you have liver disease, this can lead to death
A fatty liver results in long-term high blood pressure, which if left untreated can lead to life-threatening internal bleeding.
(Symbolic image) © Hospitalman/Imago
People with liver disease such as fatty liver disease often have increased blood pressure.
This can arise due to the accumulated fat in the liver and therefore in the blood vessels, and in the long term it can also affect other organs such as the heart and kidneys.
Fatty liver disease is usually accompanied by a special form of high blood pressure, as the
German Liver Foundation
explains.
In liver diseases, high blood pressure affects the so-called portal vein and causes the disease portal hypertension or portal hypertension.
If left untreated, high blood pressure can even lead to death.
The background is: If the fatty liver can no longer fulfill its metabolic tasks, i.e. can no longer sufficiently break down toxins, the blood flow through the portal vein is only limited or not possible at all, according to Prof. Dr.
Michael P. Manns, Chairman of the Board of the
German Liver Foundation.
The portal vein is, along with the hepatic artery, the second route of blood supply to the liver.
Since the blood has to reach the heart via a different route, the blood pressure in the other vessels leading to the heart increases accordingly.
Due to high blood pressure and increased blood flow, it is possible for varicose veins to form in the abdomen or esophagus.
If left untreated, these could lead to life-threatening internal bleeding.
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Prevent liver disease, high portal vein blood pressure and avoid dangers
In fact, portal vein hypertension cannot be diagnosed in the traditional way via an ordinary blood pressure measurement.
On the one hand, an ultrasound examination of the portal vein can provide evidence of portal vein hypertension.
An enlarged spleen, abdominal fluid (ascites) or varicose veins in the esophagus (esophageal varices) also indicate high blood pressure in the portal vein.
Accurate diagnosis and examination can only be achieved through invasive hepatic venous pressure measurement via a catheter.
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In order to prevent this threatening form of high blood pressure in the liver, it is important to detect fatty liver disease as early as possible based on liver values and non-specific symptoms such as fatigue and pressure in the upper abdomen.
Since this is not always clear in many cases, it is best to prevent the development of fatty liver disease.
This is very possible through a diet or a healthy diet low in carbohydrates, sugar and fat from the outset.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.