: Admin : 2022-01-25
What is SGOT?
SGOT or Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase is an enzyme that is normally present in the liver and heart cells of a human body. SGOT is the element released into the blood when the liver or heart is damaged. AST or aspartate aminotransferase is a test that measures the amount of the enzyme in the blood. AST is found in red blood cells, liver, heart, muscle tissue, pancreas, and kidneys. AST was previously called SGOT.
The human liver has many important affairs in the body. It makes a fluid called bile which helps an individual to digest food. It also removes waste products and produces proteins and substances that help one’s blood clot. The liver, therefore, makes the enzyme AST. Organs like the heart, kidneys, brain, and muscles, also make smaller amounts.
Generally, AST levels in a human body’s blood are low. When one’s liver is damaged, it puts more AST into the blood, and the level of AST rises. A high AST level is definitely a sign of liver damage. It can also denote that one has caused damage to another organ that makes it, like your heart or kidneys. Therefore, an AST test is done on a blood test to check the proper functioning of the liver or heart. doctors often prescribe the AST test together with tests of other liver enzymes to check the damage caused to other organs.
What is an SGOT test?
The SGOT is a blood test that measures the liver system of enzymes known as the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase. SGOT test diagnoses the liver profile by evaluating how much of the liver enzyme is in the blood. This enzyme is now known as AST.
AST is a protein made by liver cells. When liver cells are damaged in the human body, AST leaks out into the bloodstream and the level of AST in the blood becomes elevated. ALT or the alanine aminotransferase test is typically used to detect liver injury. It is often ordered in conjunction with AST as part of a liver panel. But AST is different from ALT because AST is also found in parts of the body other than the liver like in the heart, kidneys, muscles or brain. When cells in any of those parts of the body are damaged, AST becomes higher.
What are the possible symptoms of high SGOT?
SGOT exists in the liver and when it's excess it leaks into the bloodstream. A very high level of SGOT in the blood is an indication of damage or problems related to the liver. Certain diseases like cirrhosis and hepatitis raise the SGOT levels. The possible symptoms include Vomiting and nausea, Weakness, Fatigue, Leg swelling, Shortness of breath, Excessive bleeding or bruising or even Jaundice.
Why go for an SGOT Test?
An SGOT test helps to diagnose liver damage or any complications with the liver. When liver cells get damaged in the human body, SGOT leaks into the bloodstream which raises this enzyme into the blood level. Doctors prescribe SGOT Test to evaluate liver health for people who are already known to have conditions that affect their liver, such as hepatitis C. SGOT is found in several areas of the body. This includes kidneys, muscles, heart, and brain. If any of these areas are damaged, the SGOT levels may be higher than normal which can lead to heart attack and muscle injury.
Doctors also prescribe ALT tests sometimes. ALT is the other essential liver enzyme of the human body. Unlike SGOT, it’s found in the heaviest concentrations in the liver. An ALT test has more proximity in detecting potential liver damage.
Preparation for an SGOT test
The SGOT is a simple blood test. There is no such preparation required for getting the test done. However, one should take adequate precautions to make the test go smooth. The following measures should be followed:
How is an SGOT Test Done?
SGOT is a simple blood test. A small amount of blood from a vein is required for the test. To perform the test, a health professional generally cleans the skin and puts an elastic band (tourniquet) above the area to get the veins to swell with blood. He then prepares the needle and inserts the needle into a vein to pull the blood sample into the syringe. Then the elastic band is taken off and the needle is removed from the vein. Cotton or a band-aid is put to stop the blood from oozing out.
In babies, blood is sometimes drawn through the ‘heel stick blood collection; method. After cleaning the area, the health professional pricks the baby's heel with a tiny needle or lancet to collect a small sample of blood. Collecting a sample of blood can only be temporarily uncomfortable and can feel just like a quick pinprick.
Typical blood tests take just a few minutes. Sometimes it can be hard to find a vein if the patient is healthy. So, the health professional may need time to try more than once.
Is there any risk factor associated with an SGOT test?
There is no such risk factor for having an SGOT Test. One should eat healthily and stay hydrated the night before. Eating junk can weaken the body and during the test episodes of feeling light-headed or fainting might occur. One should inform the health care professionals if they feel uneasy or light-headed during the procedure. In some cases, risks are minor. They made include Bleeding, Bruising or some kind of infection. One might feel the pain of the needle when inserted.
Results of SGOT Test
A high AST or SGOT level means there is some liver damage or one of the organs or muscles containing the enzyme could be damaged. These states mainly the liver, but also the muscles, heart, brain, and kidneys could be damaged. Doctors prescribe another follow-up for proper diagnosis.
A high level of SGOT does not necessarily mean that it caused hepatitis C. A high AST along with a normal ALT denotes that the AST may come from a different part of the body. Patients with hepatitis C can have higher AST levels. It can go up and down. The exact AST level does not tell one how much liver damage there is, or whether the liver is getting better or worse, and small changes should be expected. However, for patients going for the treatment of hepatitis C, it is a must to see if the AST level changes.
The normal range of an SGOT test is occasionally between 8 and 45 units per litre of serum. In general, males may naturally have higher amounts of AST in the blood. A score above 50 for males and 45 for females is high and may indicate damage. However, there may be some variation in the normal ranges depending on the technique the lab used. Extremely high levels of AST indicate severe liver damage.
What to do after the SGOT Test?
If the reports show a high level of SGOT, doctors prescribe additional follow-up tests. The follow-up tests may include checking the condition of the liver. These tests are:
Doctors refer to these tests along with SGOT to check the functioning of the liver. All of these tests are blood tests. These tests can be taken in a complete manner through a blood panel test (CBP). Ultrasound of the liver is also done to detect liver damage.
What are the simple home measures to lower SGOT levels in the blood?
The liver is the most essential part of the human body. The liver helps in flushing out toxins by boosting the metabolism. One should take care of the liver by maintaining a healthy lifestyle or following healthy eating habits.
Everything and anything we take such as medicines, food or alcohol, etc. are filtered by our liver. Therefore, it is very important for the body to function properly and take care of the liver which can help avoid complications of the diseases on the body.
SGOT are those enzymes that are produced by the liver. Higher and abnormal SGOT levels are an indication of liver cell injury or damage and hence they should be detected through regular health check-ups and SGOT tests.
There are a few lifestyle habits that can keep our liver and body in a healthier state. They are:
An individual should check on what they are eating. Consuming Vitamin D helps in preventing any damage to the liver and decreases the SGOT levels. Eating fruits and vegetables are essential as they are high in antioxidants and is good for the functioning of the liver. Fruits, vegetables and foods like papaya, kiwi, pomegranate, carrot, spinach, bell pepper, oranges, mushrooms, soy milk, apples, fortified cereals, tofu, eggs, dairy products, oysters cod liver oil, and green leafy vegetables are very good for the liver. Eating a nutritious diet like an Organic or plant-based diet is the best option for an individual’s liver function. Too much salt and sodium-rich foods must be avoided.
Deep-fried and junk foods like pizza, burgers, fries must be avoided. Meats like chicken, mutton, pork, bacon or cheese, butter, ghee, carbonated drinks like Coke, Pepsi can create liver damage.
Alcohol is the most dangerous element for the liver. Consuming excess alcohol can produce toxins and damage the liver raising the SGOT levels in the blood. Smoking is also injurious to health as it can cause serious damage.
Consuming medicines creates too much stress on the liver. So, having medicines that are not prescribed by a qualified doctor can do more harm to the liver rather than curing the disease.
Exercising regularly is important for maintaining a healthy body as well as a healthy liver. It decreases the stress on the liver and also increases energy levels. Exercise helps in preventing obesity which is one such factor of liver damage.
Regular health check-ups and follow-ups are mandatory as liver dysfunctions do not always show specific symptoms. One should not wait long for the symptoms to occur. Preventive measures should be taken to know if the liver is functioning properly. A high SGOT level denotes the liver cell injury.
Washing hands, getting proper vaccination, not sharing personal items, avoid using contaminated needles should also be taken care of for proper functioning of the liver. Implementing a healthy lifestyle along with a healthy diet is one of the best resolutions to fight liver diseases and to lower SGOT levels.
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