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What Causes Elevated AST Levels?

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Posted on Wed, 9 Nov 2016
Question: What is the best way to lower AST levels? I was a heavy drinker (beer) and ended up with esophageal varicies (spelling?). I was vomiting blood with black blood clots. Went ER and they immediately sedated me and ended up putting 3 bands around my esophagus. My AST level was 53 compared to 70-80 5 weeks ago.
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Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (31 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
liver needs to heal up

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
Hopefully you have not done any permanent damage to your liver. Livers have a remarkable ability to heal up if we quit doing things that harm them.
Stopping the alcohol is the best thing you can do to allow the liver to heal. I would also avoid tylenol (acetaminophen) during this time.
Stopping smoking if you smoke, getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet can also help.
I suggest that you also take a multivitamin to help your body recover. Get one that is specifically for men since those usually do not have iron and iron is also not good for the liver and you probably do not need it.
If your liver enzymes, like AST, do not go back to normal after 4-6 months then they may suggest that you get a liver biopsy to see if there is evidence of more sever damage.
Make sure you have also been tested for Hepatitis B and C as well.
I wish you the best,
Dr. Robinson
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Kathy Robinson

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1989

Answered : 3535 Questions

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What Causes Elevated AST Levels?

Brief Answer: liver needs to heal up Detailed Answer: Hello and thank you for your question. Hopefully you have not done any permanent damage to your liver. Livers have a remarkable ability to heal up if we quit doing things that harm them. Stopping the alcohol is the best thing you can do to allow the liver to heal. I would also avoid tylenol (acetaminophen) during this time. Stopping smoking if you smoke, getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet can also help. I suggest that you also take a multivitamin to help your body recover. Get one that is specifically for men since those usually do not have iron and iron is also not good for the liver and you probably do not need it. If your liver enzymes, like AST, do not go back to normal after 4-6 months then they may suggest that you get a liver biopsy to see if there is evidence of more sever damage. Make sure you have also been tested for Hepatitis B and C as well. I wish you the best, Dr. Robinson