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Many individuals are at risk for experiencing liver problems

Category: Liver Diseases

Undergoing liver panel testing may not only be important the health of a person's liver. Experts say that the condition of this vital organ may be an indicator of other areas of health. Diagnosing a problem here may indicate other health risks.

Charissa Chang, a Mount Sinai researcher, told Liver Support that one of the most common causes of liver disease is fatty accumulations in the organ. These deposits can cause scarring and other damage that may eventually lead to cirrhosis if left unchecked. Fat tends to accumulate in the liver due to other health conditions.

"Fatty liver is the liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome. So it’s associated with all the other features of metabolic syndrome: high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and an increased waistline," Chang told the news source.

Liver disease has long been associated with excessive alcohol consumption, but this is no longer the case. Anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of adults in the U.S. have excessive fat in their livers, according to the the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. This puts these individuals at risk of developing cirrhosis.