– Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a severe form of liver disease that affects more than 112 million people around the world, is projected to increase by at least twofold by 2030. NASH can lead to serious consequences, such as liver cancer, cirrhosis and liver transplant.
NASH is a progressive, chronic fatty liver disease that can lead to NAFLD (nonalcoholicfatty liver disease). NASH and NAFLD are caused by fat accumulation in liver cells, which causes inflammation and injury to the cells. NASH is difficult to spot and most people do not know they have it until it becomes more severe. NASH is expected to be the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States. Early detection by a healthcare provider, and lifestyle changes can slow the progression of the condition and reverse it if caught in its early stages.
International NASH Day is an international event organized by the Global Liver Institute. This non-profit organization works to raise awareness about NASH/NAFLD. It brings together more than 80 partners around the world to highlight the most important issues in the fight to defeat NASH.
The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases as well as the European Association for the Study of Liver Diseases have supported the event in this year’s edition.
“International NASH Day unites and inspires a collective call to action, which is never more urgent than in 2020 when we are set to yield the harvest of years of diligence and investment in drug and diagnostic technology development and momentum in awareness and policy,”Donna R. Cryer JD is the founder and CEO at Global Liver Institute. “We must make the most of this moment together.”
NAFLD is a potentially fatal liver condition that can lead to death. NASH, the more severe form of NASH, is also at risk. The number of those who are vulnerable will increase by millions. NASH can be a risk factor for many other conditions. NASH is a condition that causes people to be overweight, have type II diabetes or suffer from cardiovascular disease. NASH is a condition that affects 37% of obese people. NASH is also found in 37% of type 2 diabetics. NASH can lead to serious complications such as liver cancer, liver transplantation, cirrhosis, and death if it is not treated. The COVID-19 pandemic poses additional dangers to those suffering from NASH.
The virtual panels this year will feature 30 experts from around world who will present current issues and collaborate on innovative crossdisciplinary solutions to improve the lives and preventive, treatment, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of NASH sufferers. The virtual panels will be held on June 12th at 7 – 15 p.m. EDT. You can also watch the event live on Twitter at @gliliver or on YouTube at GLI’S June 17.
NASH as global health crisis and NASH for special populations like children and cancer patients are just a few of the topics discussed. Experts also stress the importance of factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and other risk factors for NASH. This is because COVID-19-infected individuals are at greater risk of developing serious illnesses.
Learn more about International NASH Day international-nash-day.com.
You can find more information on managing and preventing all types of liver diseases at www.liver-health.org GlobalLiver.orgFollow the Global Liver Institute on Twitter @GlobalLiverFacebook @GlobalLiver, and Instagram @globalliverinstitute.
