Why would AST levels be high?
When your liver is damaged, it puts more AST into your blood, and your levels rise. A high AST level is a sign of liver damage, but it can also mean you have damage to another organ that makes it, like your heart or kidneys. That’s why doctors often do the AST test together with tests of other liver enzymes.
When should I be concerned about high AST and ALT?
An AST/ALT ratio higher than one (where the AST is higher than ALT) means you may have cirrhosis. An AST/ALT ratio higher than 2:1 (where the AST is more than twice as high as the ALT) is a sign of alcoholic liver disease.
What vitamin is good for liver detox?
Several research studies have identified milk thistle as one of the top herbs for naturally detoxing your liver and digestive tract. Milk thistle, artichoke extract, zinc, and other substances have been shown in studies to promote liver health in various ways.
Are bananas good for the liver?
This is because the sugar present in fruits, known as fructose, can cause abnormal amounts of fat in the blood when consumed in large amounts. Bananas are not bad for the liver, but try to limit them to 1-2/ day and not beyond that as the fructose in them can lead to fatty liver diseases.
What causes elevated AST?
Causes of high levels of AST. Elevated levels of AST may be triggered by damage of the liver due to conditions like cirrhosis and hepatitis. They may also be caused by decaying tumor or necrosis. Other conditions like heart attack, heart failure, kidney, and lung damage may also cause the AST levels to rise.
What does high ALT and AST mean on a blood test?
ALT and AST are liver enzyme tests, usually done together. High levels mean the liver is irritated by something, that “something” could be temporary (like taking too much Tylenol ) or something longterm and more serious like liver disease. Elevated levels usually warrant a second round of ALT/AST blood tests taken…
What causes AST and ALT levels to be high?
Common causes of elevated ALT and AST are viral liver infections, alcohol abuse, cirrhosis (from any chronic causes), hemochromatosis (iron overload), shock, and/or heart failure. Common causes of abnormal AST and ALT levels are wide ranging (for example, toxins, and autoimmune diseases).
What medications cause elevated AST?
Other conditions like heart attack, heart failure, kidney, and lung damage may also cause the AST levels to rise. Use of medications such as antibiotics, statins, narcotics, aspirin, chemotherapy, and harbutures may also cause the levels of AST to increase passed normal ranges.