Yellowing of the eyes and skin--a condition called jaundice--is a medical emergency and you should consult a physician immediately. Jaundice indicates that the liver is not working properly and if not addressed, the body cannot rid itself of toxic waste. A fatty liver can decrease the function of liver cells and can cause jaundice of the eyes and skin.
Liver
The liver is the largest abdominal organ located in the upper right abdomen, under the lower ribs. The liver mediates over 400 functions; for example, it aids in digestion and metabolism of food by producing a substance called bile, which breaks down fat in the intestine. The liver produces proteins needed to clot the blood to prevent excessive bleeding during injury. It also stores vitamins, sugar, iron and fat that the body can use, and removes toxic chemicals such as alcohol and drugs that can be harmful to health. Therefore, the liver plays a crucial role in health and if damaged, important bodily functions would not occur, leading to a state of illness.
Liver Disease
Liver disease is induced by a variety of conditions such as alcohol and drug abuse, liver tumors, structural damage or a viral infection. A fatty liver is the most common alcohol-induced liver condition; it can also occur for unknown reasons. Excessive amounts of fat infiltrate the liver cells, thus enlarging the liver and causing pain. Liver cells are unable to function properly, resulting in jaundice, or a yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Jaundice
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, 1 percent of your red blood cells retire each day. These old cells are broken down in the liver and bilirubin--a yellowish substance released from the red blood cells--is excreted from the body in the stool. If an illness causes an excessive amount of red blood cells to retire, the liver becomes overwhelmed and an excessive amount of bilirubin is released into the blood, making the whites of the eyes and skin yellow.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause of the fatty liver. Jaundice will not occur until there is extensive fat infiltration; a minor fatty liver will not compromise liver function. The best plan of attack is addressing the underlying cause of the fatty liver before jaundice occurs. Seek assistance if liver damage is caused by alcohol and substance abuse. Eat a healthy diet and perform regular exercise to loss weight if fatty liver is due to obesity. Be conscious of the saturated fat and cholesterol consumed in food.
