Should I Worry If My ALT Is High?
Yes, generally you should discuss high ALT levels with a healthcare professional, as they can indicate underlying health issues, particularly related to your liver.
ALT, or Alanine Aminotransferase, is an enzyme primarily found in your liver cells. Small amounts are normally present in your blood. When liver cells are damaged, they release more ALT into the bloodstream, causing levels to rise.
According to MedlinePlus, high levels of ALT in your blood may be a sign of a liver injury or disease. It is particularly important to pay attention to elevated ALT because some types of liver disease cause high ALT levels even before you have symptoms of the disease. This means that high ALT could be an early warning sign requiring further investigation.
Potential Causes of High ALT
Elevated ALT levels are not always indicative of severe liver disease, but they do signal that something is affecting the liver cells. Common causes include:
- Fatty Liver Disease: This is a very common cause, often linked to obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
- Hepatitis: Viral infections like Hepatitis A, B, or C can inflame the liver, raising ALT.
- Certain Medications: Many prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as supplements, can temporarily or permanently affect liver enzymes.
- Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol intake can damage the liver.
- Other Medical Conditions: Conditions like hemochromatosis (iron overload) or alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can also affect the liver.
What to Do If You Have High ALT
Discovering you have high ALT levels can be concerning, but it's a call to action rather than immediate panic. Here’s what you should do:
- Consult Your Doctor: This is the most critical step. Your doctor will review your specific ALT level, your medical history, symptoms (or lack thereof), and other test results.
- Discuss Potential Causes: Be prepared to talk about your lifestyle, diet, alcohol intake, and any medications or supplements you are taking.
- Further Testing: Your doctor may recommend additional tests to determine the cause, such as imaging scans (like ultrasound) or tests for specific viruses or conditions.
- Follow Medical Advice: Based on the diagnosis, your doctor will recommend a course of action, which might include lifestyle changes, medication adjustments, or treatment for a specific liver condition.
While discovering high ALT levels warrants attention, it's important to remember that a single high reading doesn't automatically mean severe disease. It is, however, a clear signal from your body that your liver needs to be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
