Do your eyes sometimes turn yellow? It could be Gilbert Syndrome!

Do you sometimes feel like the whites of your eyes are a little yellow? Or have a friend ever asked you, "Why are my eyes yellow?"? When that happens, you suddenly feel scared, "Oh, do I have jaundice too?" Because we all know that yellowing of the eyes can be a sign of some problem with the liver. But not all jaundice is caused by a serious liver disease. Today we're going to talk about a condition that many people have, but that's not something to be too afraid of. That's Gilbert Syndrome.

Simply put, what is Gilbert Syndrome?

Gilbert Syndrome is not a serious disease. It is a very common genetic condition that is passed down from generation to generation. Imagine that the red blood cells in our body die over time. Then, when they break down, a yellow waste product called bilirubin is produced. It looks like decaying green waste. One of the main functions of our liver is to remove this waste product called bilirubin from the body.

People with Gilbert's Syndrome have a slower process of removing bilirubin. This is because their liver has a lower level of an enzyme that helps with this process. The gene that affects this is called `UGT1A1`. For you to develop this condition, you must have inherited two copies of this altered gene, one from your mother and one from your father.

Simply put, it's like the factory in the liver, where the waste product bilirubin is working a little slower. So sometimes this yellow substance called bilirubin accumulates in the blood. That's when the eyes and skin look yellow. We also call this jaundice . But remember, Gilbert's Syndrome is not a disease that damages the liver and is not something to be afraid of.

What are the symptoms? Why do they appear suddenly?

Most of the time, people with Gilbert's Syndrome don't show any symptoms. The enzyme is enough to control the bilirubin levels in their body.

But in some special cases, the level of bilirubin in the blood increases slightly. That's when the whites of the eyes and the skin turn yellow. We call this jaundice. If you see this kind of yellowing, you should definitely see a doctor to find out if there is another serious cause.

Sometimes, this yellowing can be accompanied by headaches, fatigue, and stomach discomfort.

So why does this bilirubin level suddenly increase? There are several specific reasons that affect it. Let's see what they are.

How does a doctor find this?

Often, someone is diagnosed with Gilbert's Syndrome by accident. Maybe when you're having a blood test for another condition, your doctor notices that your bilirubin level is slightly higher than normal. That's when they suspect it.

These steps are usually followed to diagnose the disease:

• Blood tests: Bilirubin levels are checked. Liver function tests are also done to check liver function. This can rule out other serious liver diseases.
• Ultrasound Scan: Sometimes a scan may be done to make sure there are no other problems with the liver (such as stones or fatty deposits).
• Gene Tests: This test can be done to confirm whether there is a mutation in the `UGT1A1` gene. However, this is not always done.
• Liver Biopsy: This is rarely done to check for Gilbert Syndrome. It is only done if there is suspicion of another serious disease.

Is there a treatment for Gilbert Syndrome? What should we do?

Here's the good news. Gilbert's Syndrome is not a disease that requires treatment. The yellowing (jaundice) it causes will not cause any long-term harm to your body.

So what we need to do is stay as far away as possible from the triggers that increase bilirubin levels that we talked about earlier.

• Don't skip meals. Eat on time.
• Drink plenty of water. It is very important to drink at least 2-3 liters of water a day.
• Reduce stress. Relax your mind by meditating, listening to music, or engaging in a hobby you enjoy.
• Sleep well. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day.
• Limit or stop drinking alcohol completely.
• Avoid exercises that put too much strain on the body. Things like regular walking and yoga are good.

A matter of particular concern!

This is where you need to focus the most. The same enzyme that breaks down bilirubin in our liver also helps remove some medications from the body. Because that enzyme works a little slower in someone with Gilbert's Syndrome, those medications stay in the body longer and are more likely to cause side effects.

For example, commonly used medicines like acetaminophen (Panadol, Paracetamol) fall into this category. Also included are medicines like `Irinotecan`, which is used for cancer, and `Protease inhibitor`, which is used for HIV and Hepatitis C.

Therefore, when you go to a doctor, it is very important to say, "I have Gilbert Syndrome." Then the doctor will take that into account when prescribing you medication.

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