What does receiving abnormal results from liver enzyme tests mean?
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Hepatitis B & C can be transmitted in ways other than having sex or getting a transfusion.
Other risk factors for becoming infected with hepatitis C besides blood transfusions and sex:
* have had tattoos or body piercings
* have shared razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, tweezers, etc. with an infected person, even if they don't know they are infected
* organ transplant before July 1992
* have ever injected illegal drugs, even if you experimented only one time many years ago (or snorted any drugs)
* were a recipient of clotting factor(s) made before 1987
* have ever been on long-term kidney dialysis
* have had vaccinations administered with pneumatic jet injectors
* are a veteran (especially Viet Nam)
* are a health care worker exposed to needle sticks or first responders
* also 5%-10% of babies born to infected mothers will get Hepatitis C
In addition to these risk factors, elevated liver enzymes can be caused by over the counter drugs or herbs, drinking alcohol, chemical exposure, fatty liver , autoimmune hepatitis, and more. If your primary care doctor can't find out why they're elevated, get a good gastroenterologist to check you out. Best wishes.
do you drink alcholol if so, this can damage your liver enzymes,
Hep C and Hep B are also causes of abnorm liver enzymes.
Having a few alcoholic drinks the day before your testing can raise some levels. also gall bladder disease can make some results abnormal. having a very high blood count can cause elevated bilirubin results. hepatitis A is transmitted through eating contaminated food-not sex or blood contact.
Many things can cause this, but mostly elevated liver enzymes are caused from inflammation of the liver, Fatty infiltration of the liver, liver "conditions" such as NASH (google it), Fatty Liver, Cirrhosis, or simply a weekend of binge drinking can cause it, just to name a few!
Most likely your doc has ordered more tests to get to the bottom of it. Don't worry about it too much yet...If the levels were dangerously high, you wouldn't be on your computer right now. Are you on any medications right now? Do you take high doses of tylenol, or any other medications containing acetaminophens. Sometimes medications are the culprit, because most are broken down and processed thru the liver. Well, good luck! in th meantime, stay away from alcohol and unnecessary meds, just until you know whats causing it...
It is so very hard to tell you the possibilities without you telling us the actually levels of your liver enzymes.
Could be a virus, or medication, or alchohol.
Ask you doctor to explain and do further tests to see what's causing it, meanwhile abstain totally from drinking.
If it is minor, your liver will probably regenerate quite quickly. Livers are really clever organs!
Try Milk Thistle supplement to detox your liver.
If it is something more serious, your doctor is the best person to explain and treat it anyway. So try not to worry.
Depends on which levels are elevated, consult with your Doctor to be sure. To much of any number of substances can result in a call from your Doctor, which is what happened to me. I received a call after a routine blood test and was informed that two different levels were high, and I needed to take another test in 30 days. The Nurse told me I needed to abstain from excessive use of Tylenol and alcohol. Which were the most common reason for the elevated levels in my case. But again with that said, there are many other reasons and substances, that can cause an adverse reaction in a liver enzyme test. Your Doctor can explain it best, which should have already been done, if you've been informed of the elevated levels. Don't be afraid to ask questions, some Doctors and Nurses for that matter, have terrible bedside manor, they just don't take the time to explain the details. There are many over the counter analgesics that don't mix very well with each other, and none should be mixed with alcohol. All can cause liver damage if taken with alcohol, most people don't know this!! So read the labels before you self medicate, if you're not sure, call your local pharmacist. Most of the time they know more about drug interactions than Doctors do!!
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