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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Doctors and researchers at St. Luke’s Hospital are raising awareness about non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, also known as NASH.
It is a form of fatty liver disease that occurs when it ignites. Many people may not be aware of the prevalent health problem, but experts say it is much more serious than you think and requires attention.
Experts predict that NASH will increase by 63% over the next 20 years. The medical director of hepatology, Dr Laura Alba, says the root cause is an unhealthy lifestyle.
“This is associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and being overweight,” Alba said.
Alba says some people may be more genetically predisposed, but it’s often environmental triggers like poor eating habits and lack of exercise that lead to a diagnosis.
It can lead to inflammation, scarring, or liver failure, but in severe cases it can even cause strokes, heart attacks, and some types of cancer.
“That’s the problem with liver disease, by the time you have symptoms it may be too late. You may have symptoms related to complications from cirrhosis, but then you are too far advanced, ”said Alba.
Alba’s longtime patient Steve Lack remembers being diagnosed in 2016 while in graduate school. He was an otherwise healthy 23-year-old man who led an active lifestyle.
“For a long time, fatty liver disease wasn’t a big deal, but as the stress comes on you, you change your lifestyle,” Lack said. “You’re not taking care of yourself as well as you should, your sanity or whatever’s going on, it can turn out for the worse.”
The stress of work, a divorce and her general anxiety made her condition worse. By the time he moved to Kansas City and was referred to Alba, he had early stage cirrhosis. Lack says he’s a silent killer who needs preventative measures.
“With this disease, it’s really taking care of your body, watching what you eat, making sure you exercise, because it saves not only this silent disease, but many other silent diseases. So that’s a big deal, ”Lack said.
Alba advises people to eat less meat, watch their portions, and eat more plant protein.
She is also joining experts at St. Luke for clinical trials and research that may improve future treatments and outcomes for patients with NASH.
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