High transaminases: when to worry

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High transaminases: when to worry It is a question that, surely, will have crossed your mind after taking blood tests and seeing results that are higher than normal. Laymen in medicine have difficulties interpreting these scientific terms and, sometimes, we do not know the importance of their values.

This occurs with cholesterol, uric acid, the parameters of diabetes and with other elements present in our body. And of course also with transaminases. In addition, if we search the Internet, we run the risk of finding professional articles that only doctors understand. For all this, we are going to try to answer you with a simple explanation to the question high transaminases: when to worry.

What are transaminases

First stage of transamination

Diagram of the first stage of transamination

Conclusion enzymes found inside organs as important as the liver, heart and kidneys, although they are also found in the muscles. But, before continuing, we must explain to you what enzymes are.

This name is received by a set of essential proteins to speed up the reactions of our metabolism. In turn, these are what allow our body to grow and preserve itself. They are of two types: catabolic, which produce energy from cellular respiration, and anabolic, which use that energy to create other proteins and nucleic acids.

Enzymes are essential, for example, in digestion of food. They help break larger molecules into smaller pieces so they can be absorbed by the intestine. But they also have other important functions.

Going back to transaminases, two are the most important in our body. Are the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Both are distributed throughout our body, but the second is present, above all, in the liver. And this leads us to talk to you about why the amount of these enzymes is evaluated. That is, we are getting to answer the question high transaminases: when to worry.

Why is the amount of transaminases assessed?

A hospital

A health center

Knowing the number of transaminases we have in our body is useful for diagnose many diseases. But, above all, it is used, precisely, to assess those of the liver type. When they are high, it can mean that the liver is sick.

However, this is not mathematical. A healthy liver can have high transaminases. This may be due to an incorrect diet or exposure to toxins. To make sure that you are sick, the doctor will have to analyze other parameters such as albumin, alkaline phosphatase, Gamma GT, or bilirubin. Likewise, you should assess other aspects of our daily life such as the consumption of alcohol or medication. In fact, he will normally test us again after a few days.

Therefore, elevated aminotransferases, as they are also called, is not a disease in itself. Is about a symptom that we may be sick. Specifically, it warns of ailments such as fatty liver, hepatitis B, C or chronic, myocardial infarction, infectious mononucleosis or hemolytic anemia. It is also indicative of diseases of the pancreas and gallbladder.

But, since we want to be clear, we are going to explain what mononucleosis and hemolytic anemia consist of. The first is popularly known as "kissing sickness" because it is transmitted through saliva. It is more common among young people and adolescents, because the elderly are usually already immunized. The cause the Epstein Barr virus, from the family of herpes. It causes fever and skin rashes, but is usually not serious.

For its part, the hemolytic anemia is a decreased life of red blood cells, but not caused by lack of iron, as in other anemias. Its treatment usually consists of blood transfusions and cortisone medications.

But, returning to the question of high transaminases: when to worry, the time has come for us to talk to you about its normal levels.

What are the correct levels of transaminases?

Corridors

Physical exercise is good for controlling high transaminases

This values They are not the same for everyone. In fact, they present different numbers in men than in women. Also, there is a correct amount of the aspartate type (AST) other than that of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). In addition, the results are not always the same because they depend on the type of analytics let it be done

However, regarding the male gender, our general values ​​must be of between 10 and 40 IU per liter of ALTWhile of AST must be between 8 and 40 IU/L. It is important that we clarify that UI are the initials of international unity, which is the measure used on the advice of the World Health Organization to assess substances such as vitamins, hormones or, precisely, transaminases.

Regarding the values ​​of these that must be presented by the of they are lower. Specifically, they are located between 7 and 35 IU per liter of the alanine type y between 6 and 34 IU/L of aspartate. However, these parameters, both in the case of men and women, are also assessed based on other factors. A) Yes, age or body mass index.

On the other hand, if we have high transaminases, the doctor must verify that we do not suffer from any ailment of which we have explained. But it will also try to let's lower our levels of this enzyme. Because it causes disorders such as nausea and vomiting, fatigue, excessive sweating or jaundice. The latter is that the skin and eyes have a yellowish color.

How to lower high transaminases?

fruit sale

Fruits are beneficial for lowering high transaminase

Therefore, if you have high transaminases, your doctor will prescribe a treatment for you to download. But, in addition, it will advise you that do physical exercise and that avoid fatty foods. In fact, he will ask you to bring a healthy and balanced diet, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables.

It is also important that Eliminate alcohol and tobacco of your habits, as well as that you drink a lot of water, a few two liters a day. Finally, can you recommend any type of infusion so that you cleanse the liver. Through this combination of medical treatment and improvement of your eating habits, you will be able to lower your high transaminase levels.

In conclusion, we have answered the question high transaminases: when to worry. We have also oriented you on the guidelines to follow to download them and, in this way, avoid complications for your body. In any case, an active life and healthy eating habits It is always the way to have good health.


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