Have you ever heard of an ammonia test? This is actually a very simple blood test. But this simple test can give clues about some serious health problems in our body. Simply put, when we eat protein-containing foods, ammonia is produced in our body during digestion. This is toxic to our body. So our liver converts this ammonia into a harmless substance called urea and excretes it in the urine. But imagine, what if this process does not work properly due to some problem in the liver or kidneys? Then what happens is that this ammonia accumulates in our blood. That can be dangerous. It can cause severe conditions like loss of consciousness, extreme fatigue, coma, and sometimes even death.
Who would want to take this test?
A doctor usually orders this test if they notice a change in brain function. For example, someone suddenly acts out of control for no apparent reason, or falls into a coma. This is when an ammonia test may be ordered.
For newborn babies
If a newborn baby shows any of these symptoms within the first few days, the doctor may order the following tests:
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Irritability | Always restless and crying. |
| Vomiting | Frequent vomiting after drinking milk. |
| Seizures | Body tremors or seizures. |
| Sleepiness (Lack of energy) | The baby is always sleepy and lifeless. |
For young children
If your doctor suspects that your little one has any of these conditions, they may perform this test:
- Reye's syndrome: This is a rare but serious condition that affects the liver and brain. It has been linked to the use of aspirin, especially in young children.
- Urea cycle disorder: This is a genetic disorder. What happens here is that the body cannot properly remove waste products produced by the breakdown of protein. In newborns, this can cause symptoms such as vomiting, drowsiness, restlessness, and fits.
Other reasons
In addition to this, the doctor may order this test in several other situations:
- If you have liver disease or blood tests suggest this, and your health suddenly worsens (especially with changes in brain function).
- See if treatment is successful for a condition called hepatic encephalopathy . This is a condition in which people with liver disease experience severe cognitive impairment and mental changes.
How do you do the test?
This is very simple. The lab will take a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. Very rarely, blood can be taken from an artery, but that's not very common. So there's nothing to worry about.
Do you need to prepare before the test?
Yes, there are a few things to be careful about.
- Avoid exercising before the test.
- If you are a smoker, do not smoke before the test.
- The most important thing: You need to tell your doctor about all the medications you take, not just the ones prescribed by your doctor, but also any painkillers (like aspirin), vitamins, herbal products, anything you buy from the pharmacy.
What do the test results say?
Elevated ammonia levels in the blood often indicate liver or kidney disease. But that's not all. There are several other reasons why ammonia levels can increase.
| Possible causes of elevated ammonia levels |
|---|
| Internal bleeding in the stomach, intestines, esophagus, or elsewhere in the body. |
| Alcohol and drug use. This includes the use of diuretics, which remove excess fluid from the body. |
| Smoking. |
| Exercising close to the test (when you exercise, your muscles produce ammonia). |
| Using a tourniquet to tighten the arm when drawing blood can also slightly increase the ammonia level in the blood. |
Sometimes ammonia levels can drop, which can be caused by a sudden spike in blood pressure.
But here's something you need to remember . Sometimes your test results may be high or low, but that doesn't always mean you have a disease. Sometimes, the results can vary depending on how the blood sample was taken, how it was delivered to the lab, and how the test was performed. So, never jump to conclusions based on your test results. It's important to talk to your doctor and understand what the results really mean.
Take-Home Message
- Ammonia is a waste product produced during protein digestion. It is normally cleaned and eliminated from the body by our liver.
- Elevated levels of ammonia in the blood can be dangerous. It can lead to serious conditions such as confusion and unconsciousness.
- This test is usually done for people with unexplained changes in brain function, if a newborn baby shows certain symptoms, and for people with liver disease.
- Many things can affect the test results, such as exercise, smoking, and medications you take.
- Most importantly: Never make a diagnosis based on a lab report. Always discuss the results with your doctor and get the right advice.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න