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I got my results from my physical back and my ALP (84) was normal, AST (49) and ALT (76) elevated. The doc said it's only mildly elevated so no immediate cause for concern but that I am heading in the wrong direction and should introspect my habits.
I usually drink moderately (2-3 drinks/day) but this super difficult year I have had a fair bit of excessive drinking sessions (5-6 drinks per occasion) and 6-7 days before the lab test I had been on vacation and drank my heart out - 10 drinks a day probably (beer/cocktails etc.) - had a good time, obviously this has now shown up on the report It's not just me but I hear this from friends as well.
Now, i'm planning to cut down my consumption to 2 drinks on Fri and 2 on Sat. - reverting to what I used to do. Given my readings above what is the recommended path going forward - just cut out drinking completely or cut down consumption to something more reasonable like I mentioned? For the record my last physical in 2019 had normal readings.
Moderate drinking based on CDC guidelines is 1 drink/day for women, and 2 drinks/day for men.
Alcohol consumption isn't the only thing that can elevate liver enzymes.
Is your diet high in fat content ?
Are you sedentary/overweight ?
Smoker ?
On other meds ?
high in fat, possibly, I love food and I eat out 3-4 times a week. But I do try to eat healthy at home...sometimes at least
sedentary - used to be extremely active, 3 times a week to the gym, 5 mile hikes on the weekends. No extra weight. However since the gyms closed I have been not gone, also gained about 20 lbs during the year due to much reduced physical activity.
Smoker - never
No meds
From observation I have found I drink far less than many around me and those people "claim" to be in perfect health.. either they are ignorant, lying or have super genes. My best friend's GF drinks a bottle of wine a day. The women in the hiking group that I was part of earlier drank wine like it was water. And many of them are in their 50s and 60s.
I do think that when people drink a lot and claim that they are ok it leads to misinformation and gives a green light to others to do the same.
interesting video I found (interesting concept - Wine O'Clock ):
It sounds like for your health you should probably just stop drinking for awhile and if and when you go back to it, you go back to what you used to drink.
Returning to what was drunk before it raised health issues will not probably be a good choice. The effects are cumulative and what was being drunk before actually progressed to the point of health warnings.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GearHeadDave
Moderate drinking based on CDC guidelines is 1 drink/day for women, and 2 drinks/day for men.
Remember that is a generality and does not apply to all men or women the same. Much depends on genetics, other health issues and alcohol-related issues. People who find their consumption tends to creep and continue to drink are more at risk than others. That is a hallmark of an addiction forming.
I started collecting wine forty-five years ago when I was old enough to purchase it legally (21). I used to drink with my wife and friends on a regular basis. Over time, many of our relationships deteriorated and fell apart. A few years ago, I divorced my wife after 27 years of tolerating her verbal abuse and physically aggressive behavior when she had "one too many".
Alcohol has taken a toll on the health and relationships of many people I know. I encourage everyone to drink in moderation or not at all.
Alcohol killed my Ex- he died at age 64, far from family and living off social programs. DS, our only child, doesn't drink at all except for occasionally sampling a wine I'm drinking and using it in cooking. DDIL just doesn't like the taste. They're cheap dates- bar bill is only what I consume and I have a designated driver!
I'm pretty rigid about my consumption. I just decided I like alcohol and never want to have a doc tell me "you've got to stop drinking or it will kill you". I have 2 oz. of scotch every night. I measure it. Some experts describe one drink as 2 oz. not 1.5 so maybe I'm cheating a bit. If I'm feeling indulgent, I pour myself the more expensive scotch- same quantity. I'm more relaxed on vacation but that's maybe twice a year (less often now). My body keeps me honest- if I do much more than that I wake up in the middle of the night with bizarre dreams and a pounding headache.
OP- talk to your doc. What's healthy for you going forward may be less than what's OK for the general population- especially if your interpretation of "a drink" is more liberal than the aobve.
I’m amazed at how many drinkers must NOT suffer from RLS; restless leg syndrome. Alcohol is one of the main triggers of this condition (along with caffeine and chocolate, *sob*!)
Alcohol killed my Ex- he died at age 64, far from family and living off social programs. DS, our only child, doesn't drink at all except for occasionally sampling a wine I'm drinking and using it in cooking. DDIL just doesn't like the taste. They're cheap dates- bar bill is only what I consume and I have a designated driver!
I'm pretty rigid about my consumption. I just decided I like alcohol and never want to have a doc tell me "you've got to stop drinking or it will kill you". I have 2 oz. of scotch every night. I measure it. Some experts describe one drink as 2 oz. not 1.5 so maybe I'm cheating a bit. If I'm feeling indulgent, I pour myself the more expensive scotch- same quantity. I'm more relaxed on vacation but that's maybe twice a year (less often now). My body keeps me honest- if I do much more than that I wake up in the middle of the night with bizarre dreams and a pounding headache.
OP- talk to your doc. What's healthy for you going forward may be less than what's OK for the general population- especially if your interpretation of "a drink" is more liberal than the aobve.
Have some folks near and dear to me that have had their lives and the lives of those around them destroyed by alcoholism. Based on what you are saying here, feel assured you are not an alcoholic.
In many ways alcoholism is more destructive than an opiate addiction. Most people do not realize that while a heroin user can go cold turkey and experience withdrawal - while horrific it is not life threatening.
An alcoholic on the other hand can die if they stop drinking without a controlled detox with the use of barbiturates. This is why in detox centers, alcoholics always go to the top of the list ahead of opiate addicts.
Whether you call it a disease or an addiction it is a terrible fate for any human being.
Elevated liver enzymes may also indicate a fatty liver. The condition is called Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NALFD). The main cause is over consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugars, NOT fatty foods. That is common misconception.
As far as alcohol, the liver has a capacity to regenerate. It cannot do that if you drink every day. Once there is scarring present there is no turning back, that would then be cirrhosis.
There are several supplements that can help the liver. One is Milk Thistle, taken daily does help.
If you want to protect the liver to a degree, there is an amino acid called N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) and is very good for that. Take NAC one or more hours before drinking alcohol. I am not condoning excessive drinking but if you must, protect yourself. It is also said to help control obsessive behavior such as .. drinking too much. It's important to take BEFORE you drink and not after.
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It's not just me but I hear this from friends as well.
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