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Alcoholic Fatty Liver Grade 2 - Symptoms, Treatment, Reversible

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Medically Reviewed by Dr. Aman Priya Khanna
Written by Rajath R Prabhu, last updated on 17 July 2023| min read
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Grade 2 - Symptoms, Treatment, Reversible

Quick Summary

  • Alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 is a type of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
  • Symptoms of alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 include fatigue, weight loss, abdominal pain, and jaundice.
  • Treatment for alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 includes abstinence from alcohol, weight loss, and medication.

Around 15 million people, including children above 12, faced Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the United States in 2019. Not only that, but India is also witnessing a rise in alcohol consumption. 

Consuming alcohol may seem fascinating initially, but it leads to alcoholic liver diseases (ALD) sooner or later. Alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 is one of the types of ALD. Factually, 20% of heavy drinkers go through alcoholic fatty liver disease at some point in their lives. Still, they remain unaware. As a result, the disease takes more dangerous forms, viz Liver Cirrhosis or even liver failure. 

This article will provide a detailed guide on Alcoholic fatty liver grade 2, its symptoms, prevention, treatment, causes, and more. 

What is Alcoholic fatty liver Grade 2?

The liver is an organ that helps to break down fat and alcohol into smaller components. But, when one binge downs alcohol, the liver becomes unable to break down those alcoholic substances. Consequently, a high amount of fat starts building up outside the liver. Still, the liver somehow manages to carry out its function. This is grade 1 of Alcoholic fatty liver disease. In some cases, the liver regenerates itself, as well. 

However, in most cases, the fatty liver disease progresses to grade 2. In alcoholic fatty liver grade 2, a massive amount of fat gets stored ‘inside’ the liver. This storage takes place in the form of tiny droplets in the liver cells.

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What are the symptoms of Alcoholic Fatty Liver Grade 2?

A few of the Alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 symptoms are as follows: 

  1. Abdominal pain in the right upper side of the tummy
  2. Loss of appetite
  3. Weight loss
  4. Weakness and fatigue 
  5. Yellowing of skin and eyes (Jaundice)
  6.  Swollen ankles and tummy (Edema) 

Is fatty liver grade 2 reversible?

One can reverse alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 in its early stages by stopping alcohol consumption and changing their lifestyle. However, a liver transplant might be needed if the disease progresses to its more severe form, such as Liver Cirrhosis.

What are the causes of Alcoholic Fatty Liver Grade 2?

When one drinks alcohol, the liver filters it down. However, every time a few liver cells die in this filtration process. This slowly makes the liver unfit to break down alcohol into smaller substances. As a result, fats start building up in the liver. This excess fat buildup causes alcoholic fatty liver grade 2. 

Heavy drinkers are likely to develop Alcoholic fatty liver grade 2  within a few weeks of binge drinking. Not only that, if one continues to drink even a limited amount of alcohol for several years, they might also develop fatty liver disease grade 2.

What happens if fatty liver grade 2 gets worse?

If fatty liver grade 2 gets worse, it might lead to: 

  1. Alcoholic Hepatitis: The liver cells start dying due to inflammation in the liver. If not treated, it further leads to Liver Cirrhosis.
  2. Liver Cirrhosis: The scar tissues replace healthy liver tissues. Slowly, the liver stops functioning, and liver failure is caused. 

Symptoms of Alcoholic Hepatitis and  Liver Cirrhosis include:

Alcoholic Hepatitis Liver Cirrhosis
  1. Unexplained weight loss
  2. Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
  3. Swollen ankles and tummy
  4. Bloody stools and vomit
  5. Loss of appetite
  1. Fatigue (extreme tiredness) 
  2. Nausea
  3. Oedema (swollen ankles and legs) 
  4. Itchy skin
  5. Jaundice 
  6. Bruising 

How to diagnose Alcoholic fatty liver grade 2? 

There are numerous diagnostic options available for Alcoholic fatty liver grade 2, which are as follows:

  1. Liver function test: Blood samples are examined to check if the liver works correctly.
  2. Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves are used to generate pictures of the liver. 
  3. MRI: Using a magnetic field to produce detailed pictures of the liver. 
  4. Liver biopsy: A needle is used to take a sample of liver cells and study it under a microscope.
  5. CT scan: With the help of X-rays, a detailed liver image is created. 

What are the treatment options for Alcoholic Fatty Liver Grade 2?

What are the treatment options for Alcoholic Fatty Liver Grade 2?

Alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 treatments are as follows: 

 Abstinence

  1. Abstinence means to stop consuming alcohol. The period of abstinence depends on the stage of the alcoholic disease. Patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease are advised to stop drinking alcohol for a few months or years. This could help to reverse the disease. (5)

 Lifestyle changes 

  1. One of the best Alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 treatments one can bring to life is changing their lifestyle. Below are some of the lifestyle changes patients can adopt:  
  2. Many times, alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 can occur due to being overweight. Hence, it’s recommended to exercise daily. 
  3. Avoid diets high in salt. 
  4. Replacing junk and fried foods with veggies and fruits. 
  5. Drinking enough water regularly helps to flush out waste from the body. So, drink a good amount of water, around eight glasses.
  6. Patients should get themselves vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B to prevent alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 from getting worse. 

Liver Transplant

  1. If the alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 does not get better, it might be a signal for something even worse like Liver Cirrhosis. If that’s the case, a liver transplant becomes mandatory. 

How to prevent alcoholic fatty liver grade 2? 

Alcoholic Fatty liver grade 2 can be prevented by:

  1. Avoiding alcohol
  2. Exercising daily
  3. Eating a healthy balanced diet
  4. Avoiding high salt intake 
  5. Drinking enough water

Takeaway

Fatty liver grade 2 alcohol is a severe but reversible liver disease. Regardless, it might lead to liver failure if not treated correctly. Additionally, you must strictly avoid alcohol to prevent alcoholic fatty liver grade 2 from further deterioration. 

If you or any of your loved ones are going through alcoholic fatty liver grade 2, talk to a doctor and get the proper treatment. You can also contact us and take advice from our team of experienced doctors, and that too for FREE. Contact HexaHealth right now! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Fatty liver disease is the first stage of Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD). The good news is it is reversible if you stop consuming alcohol for a few weeks. Although, it's recommended to prevent the consumption of alcohol for your whole life. 

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Alcoholic Fatty liver grade 2 is reversible if you strictly stick to a healthy diet low in salt and avoid alcohol for a few months or years.  You must also seek medical attention to prevent it from worsening further. 

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Alcoholic fatty liver is fully reversible if you eat a healthy diet and avoid alcohol. It usually takes a few months to reverse your alcoholic fatty liver grade.

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Yes, you can reverse liver damage from alcohol. However, it depends on the stage of your liver disease. If it's the first or second stage, i.e., Fatty Liver Disease or Alcoholic Hepatitis, respectively, it can be reversed. But it can't be changed if it reaches its last locations, namely, Fibrosis and Cirrhosis. In this situation, a liver transplant becomes the only option left. 

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Most heavy drinkers develop the fatty liver disease within a few weeks of heavy drinking. Regardless, symptoms mostly appear when it reaches its second stage, i.e., alcoholic hepatitis. 

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 Some of the significant signs that your liver is healed are:

  1. Your appetite gets normal. 
  2. Your eyes and skin colour goes back to normal. The yellowing of the eyes and skin vanishes. 
  3. You don't feel drowsiness or confusion anymore. 
  4. You don't feel pain. 
  5. Your digestion seems normal, and you feel more energetic.
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Alcoholic fatty liver disease can be reversed within two weeks if one abstains from alcohol consumption, takes proper medication, and follows a healthy diet.

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If your liver is getting better, you'll feel the following symptoms: 

  1. Yellowing of the skin and eyes vanishes. 
  2. Your appetite goes back to normal. 
  3. You feel more energetic to do your daily tasks. 
  4. Your liver pain starts to fade away. 
  5. Digestion gets better.
  6. Confusion or drowsiness goes away. And your ability to think gets better.
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Fatty liver grade 2 is curable if one avoids alcohol and restricts to a healthy diet, as suggested by their doctor. 

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Fatty liver grade 2 can be dangerous if the proper medication is not given. It is highly advised to stop consuming alcohol. Otherwise, the disease can take a more severe form, such as Liver cirrhosis and even liver failure. It would be best if you talked to a specialist to avoid further worsening your liver. 

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To reduce your Grade 2 fatty liver naturally: 

  1. Eat a diet low in salt 
  2. Exercise daily
  3. If you are overweight, try to achieve your average weight
  4. Avoid alcohol
  5. Say no to junk foods and fried foods.
  6. Increase fruits and veggies. 
  7. Drink enough water to flush out toxins. 
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Grade 2 fatty liver means a build-up of fat globules inside your liver, specifically in the liver cells. In some instances, Grade 2 fatty liver might lead to liver failure. Therefore, one should seek medical care immediately. 

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Usually, curd helps to break down fats in the body. Hence, you can eat it in a limited amount. However, if the curd is made from full-fat milk, it should strictly be avoided. It's best to talk to your doctor because they know your condition well and can advise you accordingly. 

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You can treat Grade 2 liver disease by:

  1. Avoiding alcohol (abstinence)
  2. Improving your lifestyle
  3. Taking nutritional therapies (as suggested by your doctor)
  4. Eating food low in salt intake
  5. Exercising daily 
  6. Eating fruits and vegetables
  7. Drinking enough water
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Last Updated on: 17 July 2023

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational and learning purposes only. It doesn't cover every medical condition and might not be relevant to your personal situation. This information isn't medical advice, isn't meant for diagnosing any condition, and shouldn't replace talking to a certified medical or healthcare professional.

Reviewer

Dr. Aman Priya Khanna

Dr. Aman Priya Khanna

MBBS, DNB General Surgery, Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery, FIAGES

12 Years Experience

Dr Aman Priya Khanna is a well-known General Surgeon, Proctologist and Bariatric Surgeon currently associated with HealthFort Clinic, Health First Multispecialty Clinic in Delhi. He has 12 years of experience in General Surgery and worke...View More

Author

Rajath R Prabhu

Rajath R Prabhu

MSc. Clinical Research I PG Diploma in Public Health Services Management

3 Years Experience

His work in medical content writing and proofreading is noteworthy. He has also contributed immensely to public health research and has authored four scientific manuscripts in international journals. He was assoc...View More

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