NASH

Up to 6.5% of Americans have nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) — and, frighteningly, NASH rarely causes any symptoms until it becomes potentially fatal cirrhosis. But there’s good news about NASH: HealthScansBCS offers a noninvasive, leading-edge liver scan that detects the early signs of fatty liver long before it reaches that point. The office provides scans with no referrals needed, and they can send your results to the physician of your choice. For an affordable and convenient liver scan, click on the online scheduler now or call the Bryan, Texas, office.

What is NASH?

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is when fats build up in the liver, causing cellular inflammation and damage. It’s one of the two types of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

The other type is fatty liver, which features fat accumulation in the liver without liver damage. Fatty liver progresses to NASH in some people.

NASH is a serious concern because it can lead to cirrhosis (liver scarring), liver failure, and liver cancer. Around 5% of people worldwide have NASH, but many don’t know it because the disease is underdiagnosed.

Are NASH and alcoholic hepatitis the same?

NASH and alcohol-related hepatitis are similar; both involve liver inflammation. People with NASH tend to have more fat in their liver than people with alcoholic hepatitis.

The main difference between the two is the reason that the disease developed. NASH is often related to obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Alcoholic hepatitis develops due to decades of heavy alcohol use.

Does NASH cause any symptoms?

NASH rarely causes symptoms. People who experience symptoms can feel tired and experience discomfort in the upper right abdomen around the right rib cage, where your liver is.

You can’t rely on symptoms to determine if you have NASH or if fatty liver has progressed to NASH. If you’re at risk of NASH due to your weight, alcohol use, or other things, or if you already have a fatty liver, you need regular liver scans.

What does a liver scan reveal if you have NASH?

Health Scans BCS uses the foremost liver scan technology to evaluate your liver: FibroScan® from Echosens. FibroScan checks two aspects of your liver: its fat content (the percentage of your liver that is fatty tissue) and its elasticity (the amount of scar tissue and hardness).

FibroScan is an effective way to track changes in your liver. If you have a fatty liver, FibroScan helps determine if you’ve developed NASH. If you have NASH, FibroScan can determine if the disease is getting worse.

The information from your FibroScan goes to your physician’s office, and it’s instrumental in deciding the best way to treat your condition. Liver scans help you stay ahead of the game in treatment planning.

Schedule your liver scan now at HealthScansBCS. No referral is needed. Or click on the online booking button.