Understanding The Causes Of Elevated Liver Enzymes

Elevated liver enzymes are revealed during blood tests done for other reasons. They indicate liver damage and inflammation! Thankfully, most cases are mild and temporary. One of the commonly elevated enzymes is alanine transaminase. When blood tests reveal an elevation, patients need a follow-up test. They also need follow-up appointments with their doctor! Their doctor must monitor their liver health closely. They often use imaging studies and other tests to do this.

The cause dictates the best treatment for elevated liver enzymes. When pain medications are the cause, patients must stop taking them when it is possible. Some patients need medication adjustments as their elevated liver enzyme treatment. Of course, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease treatment is essential! In some cases, heart surgery for heart failure is the best option. Many patients benefit from weight loss for liver health! However, as mentioned, the best treatment depends on the cause. Patients must know theirs first!

Heart Failure

Heart failure often triggers elevated liver enzymes. This condition happens when an individual's heart cannot pump the necessary blood. This condition is chronic, and patients need constant treatment. It also worsens over time! Symptoms of heart failure include feet and leg swelling, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Of course, elevated liver enzymes also occur! The reason is that heart failure increases stress on the liver. Other signs include persistent coughing and rapid weight gain from retaining fluid. High-risk individuals include men and those with high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity. Coronary artery disease patients also have a higher risk of heart failure!

Doctors diagnose this condition through various tests. Examples include chest x-rays, stress tests, echocardiograms, and CT scans. Blood tests are also used, typically to check an individual's NT-proBNP levels. Patients often take medication for heart failure. Common options are diuretics and beta-blockers! Some individuals need surgery, such as heart valve repair and coronary bypass surgery. Doctors will often recommend an ICD. However, severe cases require a heart transplant!

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Over-The-Counter Pain Medication

Acetaminophen is found in many types of over-the-counter pain medication. However, it is a common trigger for liver damage! It also causes elevated liver enzymes in many individuals. Patients who take this medication for long periods are at a high risk for this. The same applies to those who take higher doses! The risk of liver damage and elevated enzymes is why doctors put dosage directions on this medication. Patients must follow them to lower their risk!

Patients need to take this medication only as long as necessary. Most doctors recommend only taking it for three to five days. When symptoms persist, patients need to see a doctor! Other over-the-counter pain medications cause elevated liver enzymes and other liver problems. They are ibuprofen and naproxen! Patients must discuss which medication is safest for their needs with a doctor. This is even more important when they have any underlying health condition, especially those related to their liver!

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Statins

Statins are common prescriptions. They treat high cholesterol! This medication also helps patients who are at a high-risk for strokes or heart attacks. In fact, evidence indicates that statins reduce the risk of a second stroke or heart attack by forty percent! Of course, this type of medication has side effects. Most patients report dizziness, bloating, muscle weakness, pain in their abdomen, and sleeping problems.

Sometimes, statins cause elevated liver enzymes! Thankfully, this is a rare side effect. Patients can lower their risk by taking the lowest effective dose! Of course, doctors must monitor a patient's liver function closely during treatment. Most of the time, patients can continue taking this medication when they have elevated liver enzymes. However, this only applies when the elevation is mild! Moderate to severe cases require a change in medication.

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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, another trigger for elevated liver enzymes, involves fat cells accumulating in the liver. Causes include high blood sugar and obesity. Two others are insulin resistance and high triglycerides! Certain conditions increase an individual's risk of this disease, such as sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome! This condition does not often produce visual symptoms! Most of the time, it is diagnosed through a blood test done for other reasons. This is often when patients discover that their liver enzymes are elevated!

Doctors confirm their diagnosis through CT scans, a liver biopsy, and an abdominal ultrasound. Most patients must lose weight to treat this disease! In fact, they have to lose ten percent of their weight. However, benefits begin when patients have lost five percent! Untreated, this condition results in cirrhosis of the liver. In this case, patients need to have a liver transplant.

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Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is viral. It compromises an individual's liver function! Most cases are triggered by contact with an infected individual or ingesting contaminated food or water. Symptoms of this infection often appear several weeks later! Warning signs include jaundice, appetite loss, severe itching, and upper right abdominal pain. Patients experience dark urine and clay-colored stool as well. Of course, this infection often causes elevated liver enzymes! Most patients are diagnosed through a blood test.

Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for this infection. Most patients must rest for a few weeks and avoid all alcohol consumption. This allows them to recover fully! The best treatment is prevention. Individuals need to receive a hepatitis A vaccine before traveling to high-risk areas.