Elevated liver function tests are conducted on an individual to determine, whether his/her liver is functioning properly. These tests are conducted to diagnose chronic or metabolic liver diseases. This article provides some information about the causes of elevated liver function tests.
Diagnosis of liver problems caused by any disease is not a simple task. Generally, these are detected during the diagnosis of some other ailment. Thus, the situation may become very crucial. Elevated liver function tests can prove to be an answer to this question. It is advisable that a person affected by any of these problems should go for these tests, to avoid any health complications. Here are the different causes:
Obesity
These tests are commonly conducted on obese people. Obesity is often considered as one of the primary reasons that causes malfunctioning of the liver. Diseases like diabetes, which affect the liver, is often a consequence of high-fat accumulation.
Liver Injury
The test may also be conducted on a person who is very likely to have experienced a liver injury, during an accident.
Medication
Consumption of a certain medicine over a prolonged period of time, may cause the liver to function abnormally. Drugs like aspirin and ibuprofin, if taken on a regular basis, can raise the chances of elevated liver functions. People experiencing high cholesterol problems are often prescribed drugs like statins to lower their cholesterol. These drugs if consumed on a regular basis, can cause a high-functioning liver.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a disease that affects the liver. The virus causing this disease generally causes an inflammation of the liver.
Viral Infections
A person affected by disorders in the immune system, is very likely to experience high-functioning liver problems. If the immune system is not strong enough to resist viral infections, then overtime, the liver becomes susceptible to them.
Alcohol
Its most common cause is alcoholism. Regular consumption of alcohol in large quantities causes the liver to stop its normal functioning. This results in elevated liver functioning, and the impact on the liver caused by alcohol can only be diagnosed by a test. Consumption of medicines which contain alcohol, on a regular basis, may also prompt the doctor to suggest one to go for this test.
The aforementioned list are the primary and general causes of elevated liver functioning. However, there are numerous uncommon ailments too, which can cause the same problem. Hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease are two of these ailments which can result in the malfunctioning of the liver.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
