Fatty Liver Center - Smyrna, TNSmyrna Gastroenterologist Doctors for Fatty LiverType of Physician: Gastroenterologist What is a Gastroenterologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated. Specialty: Gastroenterology Common Name: GI Doctor Gastroenterologist Doctors in Smyrna * Nashville Gastrointestinal Specialist Inc  Nashville Gastrointestinal Specialist Inc  Anthony Montemuro MD  Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Sunil Sarvaria MD  Lebanon Digestive Disease Associates PC  Lebanon Digestive Disease Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates  Associates in Gastroenterology  Associates in Gastroenterology  Associates in Gastroenterology  Nashville Gastrointestinal Specialist Inc  Associates in Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Consultants  Franklin Gastroenterolgy PLLC  Franklin Gastroenterolgy PLLC  Max Caudill MD  Vanderbilt University Medical Center  Vanderbilt University Medical Center  Vanderbilt University Medical Center  Stephanie McAbee MD  Vanderbilt University Medical Center  GI Clinic at Vanderbilt Medical Center  GI Clinic at Vanderbilt Medical Center  Vanderbilt University Medical Center  Richard P Schneider MD  Vanderbilt University Medical Center  Vanderbilt University Medical Center  Somayaji Gastroenterology Group PC  Charles Winters Jr. MD  Nashville Gastrointestinal Specialist Inc  Nashville Endoscopy Center  Nashville Endoscopy Center  Heritage Medical Associates  Heritage Medical Associates  Heritage Medical Associates  Heritage Medical Associates  Heritage Medical Associates  Nashville Gastro Consulting PLLC  Nashville Gastroenterology Consultants PC  The Frist Clinic Gastroenterology & Infectious Disease  The Frist Clinic  The Frist Clinic Gastroenterology & Infectious Disease  Nashville Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Nashville Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Mene Sugage Zua MD  Nashville Gastrointestinal Specialist Inc  James R Gillespie MD  Gastroenterology & Hepatology Associates  Michael C Diaz MD  St Thomas Medical Group  St Thomas Medical Group  Heritage Medical Associates  Sumner Medical Group PLLC  Mid South Gastroenterology  Mid South Gastroenterology  Mid South Gastroenterology  Mid South Gastroenterology  Suzanne C Collier MD  Fayetteville Medical Associates  Anil Patel MD  Edwin C Glassell MD  Medical Specialists Of Cookeville  Medical Specialists Of Cookeville  Waverly Clinic Smyrna, TennesseeUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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Fatty LiverRead the Fatty Liver article » What are Fatty Liver, NAFLD, and NASH?Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a wide spectrum of liver disease ranging from simple fatty liver (steatosis), to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to cirrhosis (irreversible, advanced scarring of the liver). All of the stages of NAFLD have in common the accumulation of fat (fatty infiltration) in the liver cells (hepatocytes). In NASH, the fat accumulation is associated with varying degrees of inflammation (hepatitis) and scarring (fibrosis) of the liver. The term nonalcoholic is used because NAFLD and NASH occur in individuals who do not consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Yet, in many respects, the histological picture of NAFLD (when we look at a biopsy piece of liver under the microscope) is similar to what can be seen in liver disease that is due to excessive intake of alcohol. As we shall see, however, the clinical circumstances in NAFLD and NASH are very different from those in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). What is the NAFLD spectrum?
The next stage and degree of severity in the NAFLD spectrum is NASH. Fortunately, only a fraction of patients with simple fatty liver will develop NASH. As mentioned, NASH involves the accumulation of fat in the liver cells as... Recommended Reading Related to Fatty LiverIntroductionWhile the patient's history and physical examination are the building blocks of making a medical diagnosis, the ability to peer inside the body can be a powerful tool. Ultrasound is an imaging technique that provides that ability to medical practitioners. What is an ultrasound?Ultrasound produces sound waves that are beamed into the body causing return echoes that are recorded to "visualize" structures beneath the skin. The ability to measure different echoes reflected from a variety of tissues allows a shadow picture to be constructed. The technology is especially accurate at seeing the interface between solid and fluid filled spaces. These are actually the same principles that allow SONAR on boats to see the bottom of the ocean. What is ultrasonography?Ultrasonography is body imaging using ultrasound in medical diagnosis. A skilled ultrasound technician is able to... Other Related Fatty Liver ArticlesEmergency Contact for Smyrna
Nearby Smyrna Hospitals *StoneCrest Medical Center Alvin C York Veterans Affairs Medical Center Middle Tennessee Medical Center Southern Hills Medical Center Summit Medical Center Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute Williamson Medical Center Nashville Rehabilitation Hospital University Medical Center Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital Psychiatric Hospital At Vanderbilt Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville VA Medical Center Baptist Hospital McFarland Specialty Hospital Centennial Medical Center Parthenon Pavilion Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital Saint Thomas Hospital Skyline Madison Campus Skyline Medical Center Bordeaux Long Term Care Kindred Hospital Nashville Hendersonville Medical Center Stones River Hospital Heritage Medical Center Sumner Regional Medical Center Trousdale Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Fatty Liver by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
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Liver Disease
- Liver disease can be cause by a variety of things including infection (hepatitis), diseases such as gallstones, high cholesterol or triglycerides, blood flow obstruction to the liver, and toxins (medications and chemicals). Symptoms of liver disease depends upon the cause; however, common symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, upper right abdominal pain, and jaundice. Treatment depends upon the cause of the liver disease.
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Liver Cancer
- Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world and the majority of patients with liver cancer will die within one year as a result. Patients with associated cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis B or C infections, alcohol, and hemochromatosis are at the greatest risk of developing liver cancer. Many patients with liver cancer do not develop symptoms until the advanced stages of the tumor which usually makes prognosis poor. The combination of an imaging study (ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans) and an elevated blood level of alpha-fetoprotein will most effectively diagnose liver cancer, while a liver biopsy can make a definitive diagnosis. Medical treatments, including chemotherapy, chemoembolization, ablation, and proton beam therapy, are not very effective. Surgical removal of the tumor or a liver transplant may be most effective in certain cases.
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Cirrhosis (Liver)
- Cirrhosis of the liver refers to a disease in which normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue caused by alcohol and viral hepatitis B and C. This disease leads to abnormalities in the liver's ability to handle toxins and blood flow, causing internal bleeding, kidney failure, mental confusion, coma, body fluid accumulation, and frequent infections. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin, itching, and fatigue.
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Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
- Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
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Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is usually spread by blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and needle sticks, especially with intravenous drug abuse. Chronic hepatitis C may be treated with interferon, usually in combination with anti-virals.
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Alcoholism
- Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), also known by the name Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is a hormonal problem that causes women to have a variety of symptoms including irregular or no menstrual periods, acne, obesity, and excess hair growth. Treatment of PCOS depends partially on the woman's stage of life and the symptoms of PCOS.
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Hepatitis B
- The hepatitis B virus is a unique, coated DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. The course of the virus is determined primarily by the age at which the infection is acquired and the interaction between the virus and the body's immune system. Successful treatment is associated with a reduction in liver injury and fibrosis (scarring), a decreased likelihood of developing cirrhosis and its complications, including liver cancer, and a prolonged survival.
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Cholesterol
- Cholesterol is naturally produced by the body, and is a building block for cell membranes and hormones. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol, conversely, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol. High cholesterol treatment includes lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), and medications such as statins, bile acid resins, and fibric acid derivatives.
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Insulin Resistance
- Insulin resistance is the diminished ability of cells to respond to the action of insulin in transporting glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into muscle and other tissues. Causes of insulin can include conditions such as stress, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and steroid use. Some of the risk factors for insulin resistance include fatty liver, heart disease, strokes, peripheral vascular disease, high cholesterol, and smoking. Treatment for insulin resistance are lifestyle changes and if necessary, medication.
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Liver
- The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, and is actually an gland. The liver has a wide variety of critical functions such as manufacturing proteins and metabolizing fats and carbohydrates. The liver also eliminates harmful biochemical waste products from the body (alcohol, drugs, toxins). The liver secretes bile that aids in digestion. Examples of diseases of the liver include cirrhosis, hepatitis, cancer, and fatty liver. Symptoms of liver disease include bleeding, easy bruising, edema, fatigue, and jaundice.
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Metabolic Syndrome
- The main features of metabolic syndrome include insulin resistance, hypertension (high blood pressure), cholesterol abnormalities, and an increased risk for clotting. Patients are most often overweight or obese. Lifestyle modification such as the Mediterranean diet, exercise, and quitting smoking are the preferred treatment of metabolic syndrome.
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The Digestive System
- Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
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Reye's Syndrome
- Reye's syndrome (RS, or Reye syndrome) is a sudden, sometimes fatal, disease of the brain with degeneration of the liver. Reye syndrome occurs in children and comes after the chickenpox or an influenza-type illness, is also associated with taking medications containing aspirin. Symptoms include vomiting, listlessness, irritability or combativeness, confusion, delirium, delusions, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. Treatment depends on early diagnosis and focuses on protecting the brain against irreversible damage by reducing brain swelling, reversing the metabolic injury, preventing complications in the lungs, and anticipating cardiac arrest.
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Childhood Obesity
- Fast food consumption and lack of exercise are just a couple of causes of childhood obesity. Health effects of childhood obesity include type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, gallstones, fatty liver disease, GERD, depression, and eating disorders.
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Abdominal Pain
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Medications
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Procedures & Tests
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Pictures, Images & Quizzes
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Doctor's & Expert's Views
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Health News
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Health Features
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