You probably don’t think much about your liver. After all, the liver has little to do with your day-to-day activities. However, if you are concerned about your health, you should be aware that having a healthy liver is crucial to staying in good shape and preventing disease.
The liver is a crucial organ that helps the body detoxify. Its purpose is to get rid of the poisons your body creates and absorbs. You could have symptoms or illnesses that could be fatal if your liver is not taken care of.
What Exactly is a Liver Function Test?
Liver function tests are a group of blood tests that check how well your liver is working. Your liver is the largest organ in your body and performs many different functions, including breaking down chemicals, removing drugs and toxins from the body, and keeping your blood clean.
If you have certain problems with your liver or if you’re taking certain medicines, your doctor may order liver function tests to help diagnose or monitor your condition.
When is the Liver Function Test Recommended?
Your doctor may recommend that you get a LFT blood test if you have symptoms of liver disease, such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), itchy skin, or dark urine.
It’s also a good idea to get tested if you have risk factors for liver disease, including:
– A family history of liver problems
– Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
– Chronic hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
I Need to Know How to Get Ready for a Liver Function Test.
Before having a liver function test (LFT), it’s vital to speak with a doctor because the preparations needed can differ. Additionally, it’s critical to let the doctor know about any medications the patient is taking.
The amounts of proteins and enzymes in the blood can be affected by certain drugs and diets. A doctor can give detailed advice on how to get ready for the LFT blood test and tell you whether you need to skip any meals or medications before the test.
What Does a High Liver Function Test Result mean?
It analyses the concentrations of numerous proteins and enzymes in the blood to assess the health and function of the liver.
Enzymes and proteins have distinct typical ranges, and abnormal levels, whether higher or lower than normal, can signify a variety of illnesses and disorders. In addition to aspects like age, lifestyle, genetic history, etc., which must also be taken into account when interpreting the findings of the liver function blood test, there are also several drugs, dietary practises, and health problems that can impact the levels of enzymes in the blood.
How Many Tests Does A Liver Function Test include?
The number of test included in a liver function test are:
- Albumin
- Globulin
- Total protein
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
- Bilirubin (direct and indirect)
- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
A liver function test price in Hyderabad will be somewhere between 800-1000 depending upon different situations and your conditions.
Why is the LFT Test Advised for Pregnant Women?
An LFT test during pregnancy may be essential to ensuring the health of both the mother and the unborn child. It is crucial to monitor liver health in pregnancy with regular LFT tests since the changes the body experiences during pregnancy might occasionally result in the development of liver problems or the flare-up of an underlying chronic liver disease.
For liver-related disorders to be successfully treated and to have better results for both the mother and the foetus, early identification is essential.
What Happens Following a Liver Function test?
One should present the reports to their doctor when the liver function test results are prepared. In the event of an abnormal result, the doctor will be able to accurately interpret the findings while considering the patient’s health and other influencing circumstances.
The doctor will then be able to recommend additional testing, if necessary, or they will create a treatment plan that will be implemented moving forward, depending on the diagnosis.
What Things Led to Liver Disease More Likely to Occur?
A screening test for liver disease must be done more frequently in order to monitor one’s liver health because a number of factors can raise the chance of getting the disease. Among these elements are:
- Excessive alcohol use
- Being overweight
- Being a type 2 diabetic
- Body piercings or tattoos
- Sharing needles when injecting drugs
- Unhealthy lifestyle practises, such as a diet high in saturated fats, a lack of regular exercise, etc.
- Issues with cholesterol
- Family’s history of liver issues
- Use of specific prescription medications
