Are you planning to undergo lab tests to determine the health of your liver? If so, there are some things you should know first, including what’s included in the liver function test, how long it takes, and how to prepare yourself in advance of your appointment.
This guide will give you all the basic facts you need to know about the liver function test to be prepared and confident when going into your work.
What Is The Liver?
Every day, your liver takes care of 1,200 chemical reactions in your body and clears out anything harmful. Because of its essential role, you should take care to protect it from damage. Doctors can check how well your liver is working with a liver function test (LFT).
The results are based on four indicators: prothrombin time (PT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin. These are given a score using these ranges: 9–12 average; 6–8 borderline; 5 or below abnormal.
Why Are LFT Important?
Lab tests give you a snapshot of what’s going on inside your body when it comes to physical health. If something is amiss, LFT help pinpoints precisely what that might be before it becomes too late.
When it comes to essential vitamins and minerals, LFT helps you determine whether your diet is lacking in anything. Understanding what your liver function test means can take some time if you’re suffering from a condition like Hepatitis C or some other form of liver disease.
List of LFT Tests
Serum bilirubin is usually elevated in Gilbert’s syndrome and Dubin-Johnson syndrome. Serum alkaline phosphatase levels are elevated in osteoblastic bone lesions, cholestatic syndromes, and hyperparathyroidism. Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) level is elevated when liver disease due to alcoholism or hepatitis C virus infection occurs.
How is LFT Performed?
Essa Laboratories is a reputed diagnostic lab in Lahore, Pakistan. LFT or liver function test is done to check liver function and related conditions. There are specific blood tests that determine how well you’re liver functions and its capacity to carry out certain vital parts of the human body daily. LFTs are some of those blood tests that you can do at home by visiting your GP or a nearby hospital or lab.
What Are Normal LFT Results?
According to Dr. Essa Laboratory, a comprehensive test is only considered normal if both values are within 0-10. This could mean that AST is five and ALT is six or that AST is eight and ALT is 10. If either value is outside of these ranges, your doctor will need to look at your results.
What to Do If There Are Abnormal Results
If your liver enzyme levels are abnormal, your liver is inflamed. This inflammation could be due to a viral infection or bacterial overgrowth in your intestines. Look into upping your intake of antioxidants and herbs that support liver health and lower stress in your life.
It’s also essential to make sure you’re getting plenty of fiber and drinking lots of water every day because both can help flush out toxins. If none of these changes effectively treat abnormally high or low enzyme levels, see a medical professional for more guidance, particularly if you notice symptoms such as fatigue, jaundice (yellowing skin), weight loss or nausea, and with nausea elevated enzyme levels.
