What to do when liver enzymes are high?
Elevated liver enzymes indicate an abnormality occurring in liver cells. This abnormality may be temporary, but it can also pose a serious threat to the body if the liver cells are damaged.
Liver enzymes are produced by liver cells and play a vital role in the body's metabolic processes. When liver cells die due to aging, a certain amount of liver enzymes are released into the bloodstream at a concentration below 40 U/l. This level remains relatively constant in healthy individuals, but when liver damage occurs, these enzymes spill into the bloodstream, increasing their concentration.
High levels of liver enzymes
There are typically four types of liver enzymes: AST (Aspart transaminase), also known as SGOT; ALT (Alanine transaminase), also known as SGPT (Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase); alkaline phosphatase; and GGT (Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase). Of these four enzymes, AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) play the main role in reflecting the condition of liver cells.
When elevated liver enzymes are detected, fast food such as hamburgers should be avoided.
When hepatitis occurs, it leads to more liver cell destruction than normal, causing elevated levels of liver enzymes in the blood. Therefore, when liver enzyme levels exceed normal thresholds, it is considered elevated and is divided into different levels such as:
Mild increase: This is when liver enzymes are 1-2 times higher than normal.
Moderate elevation: This is when liver enzymes are 2-5 times higher than normal.
Increased severity: This occurs when liver enzymes are more than 5 times higher than normal.
Reason
Elevated liver enzymes are common in people with hepatitis or other liver diseases, due to the use of certain medications that increase liver enzymes, and in those who consume alcohol.
Hepatitis:Hepatitis from any cause will cause a sudden increase in liver enzymes, but hepatitis caused by viral groups such as A, B, C, E, and D has a very high increase and often causes acute inflammation.
Viral liver damage is very dangerous because after the virus invades liver cells, it reproduces very quickly and aggressively, destroying more liver cells than it invades, thus releasing more liver enzymes. Therefore, in cases of acute hepatitis or fulminant hepatitis,liver cancerThen, liver enzyme levels increase rapidly and dramatically, sometimes reaching as high as 5,000 U/l.
Drinking alcohol, beer:Alcohol is a common cause of elevated liver enzymes, especially alcohol, which damages liver cells, leading to increased liver enzymes. The level of elevated liver enzymes in people who drink alcohol depends on the amount and quality of the alcohol consumed. Typically, when liver enzymes increase due to alcohol, AST levels are usually 2-10 times higher, while ALT levels increase less.
Malaria:In malaria, especially severe malaria, liver enzymes can also be elevated because both liver and kidney cells are damaged.
Diseases of the biliary tract:Liver enzymes can also be elevated in biliary tract diseases such as cholangitis, cholecystitis, intrahepatic bile duct stones, congenital biliary atresia, or liver abscess.
Furthermore, in some other conditions such as iron overload, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune diseases of the small intestine, or when using certain medications to treat other diseases, such as tuberculosis medication, the metabolism of liver cells can be affected, causing liver cell toxicity or acute hepatitis. In the case of lipid-lowering drugs, liver enzymes may also increase, but they return to normal levels when the medication is stopped.
Preventive measures
When elevated liver enzymes are detected, patients should take the following measures:
Review your past consumption of alcohol or any medications you may have taken. If you have consumed alcohol, stop or completely abstain. If you have taken medication, especially painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs, consult your doctor immediately for treatment and guidance.
Perform additional diagnostic tests such as liver ultrasound, biliary tract ultrasound, and general abdominal ultrasound to determine the cause of the elevated liver enzymes.
Rest, engage in light work, eat a balanced diet, and follow dietary and drinking restrictions as advised by your doctor. Absolutely do not self-medicate, including with Western medicine.medicine
Stay calm and avoid excessive worry that could negatively impact your mental and physical health, especially for those with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions or metabolic disorders. However, don't underestimate the risks either.
Undergo regular medical check-ups to monitor liver enzyme levels.
Eat regularly and never skip any meals.
Avoid eating processed and canned foods, and fast food such as hamburgers, french fries, and muffins.
Increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily meals.
Avoid consuming carbonated drinks.
According to phapluattp.vn - NM