Symptoms of High Liver Enzyme Levels and How to Lower Them

High Liver Enzyme Symptoms

Let’s also look at how to lower them

Liver enzyme levels refer to values that show how much liver function has decreased due to liver damage, and they can be checked through blood tests.

Liver enzyme values that can be identified through blood tests include AST, ALT, and ALP. When a blood test shows that liver enzyme levels are high, it means that AST and ALT levels have increased.

Today, let’s look at what symptoms can appear when liver enzyme levels are high, as well as the causes that reduce liver function and how to lower the levels.

Symptoms

The liver is also called a silent organ, so even when it is damaged, symptoms do not usually appear clearly. That is why it is a good idea to check liver enzyme levels regularly through periodic examinations.

When liver damage causes the levels to rise, symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting may occur, and jaundice, in which the skin appears yellow, may also appear.

In addition, urine may appear darker than usual, the skin may become itchy, appetite may decrease, and severe fatigue may be felt.

Also, if liver damage prevents the normal secretion of bile, you may suffer from indigestion. Since ammonia in the intestines is not properly broken down, bad breath may also occur.

In addition, because waste products are not smoothly eliminated from the body, swelling may develop, and muscle pain that makes the whole body ache may occur as well.

The symptoms of high liver enzyme levels are varied like this, but because they are symptoms caused by damage, many cases are asymptomatic. That is why regular checkups are the most appropriate way to confirm them.

Causes

An increase in liver enzyme levels means that liver cells have been destroyed. If there are various liver-related diseases such as hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, or fatty liver hepatitis, the levels may be measured as high.

Fatty liver refers to a state in which fat has accumulated in liver cells. It is divided into alcoholic fatty liver, which is related to drinking, and non-alcoholic fatty liver, which is related to diabetes, obesity, medications, and more.

In the case of fatty liver, most people have no symptoms, but abnormalities in liver enzyme levels may appear in blood tests, or fatty liver may be diagnosed through abdominal ultrasound.

When inflammation develops in the liver and damage such as acute or chronic hepatitis occurs, the levels also increase. In such cases, rather than being asymptomatic, various symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain, and fever may appear.

If you regularly drink excessively, it can damage the liver and become a factor that increases the levels.

If you continue drinking four or more drinks a day on a regular basis, the risk of developing fatty liver may increase, and alcoholic fatty liver can lead to hepatitis or cirrhosis, so caution is needed.

How to Lower Liver Enzyme Levels

To lower liver enzyme levels, it is important to properly identify and address the causes that raise them. In the case of drinking and smoking, because they are major causes that damage liver cells and cause inflammation, it is best to stop them completely.

Also, in cases of diabetes or obesity, fat is likely to accumulate in liver cells, preventing them from functioning properly and increasing the risk of damage. Therefore, weight should be reduced through appropriate diet and exercise.

Today, we looked at what symptoms can appear when liver enzyme levels are high, and also explained the causes and how to lower the levels. Please refer to the information above and use it to help manage your health.