The liver does a lot of hard work, as it is the largest internal organ in the human body. However, research indicates that many people live with weak liver function, and do not even know it. 

It is estimated that more than 100 million people in the United States have some form of liver disease, a broad term used to describe many conditions, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatitis, and liver cancer

NAFLD is referred to as the “silent epidemic,” and experts suspect that between 80 million and 100 million adults in the United States suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

As the name suggests, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is characterized by the presence of fat in the liver.

The main cause of this disease is being overweight, along with other factors such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and obstructive sleep apnea.

Experts say that preventive measures such as diet, exercise, and abstaining from alcohol can all help ward off liver disease.

But Dr. Bobo Panini, a hepatologist and assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine, said: “Signs and symptoms of liver disease usually do not appear until after significant liver damage has occurred,” according to the New York Post.

Health professionals urge people to seek medical care if they notice these warning signs: