I just got my annual blood work back and my doctor said my liver enzymes are a bit high. He mentioned something about a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease screening, but didn’t go into detail and just said we’d keep an eye on it. I’m not really sure what that involves or if I should be asking for more specific tests now, since I don’t drink at all.
That would worry me too. High liver enzymes with no alcohol use can still signal health issues, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a real thing even in non drinkers. I would want clear next steps, but I would not panic.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease screening is common even for non drinkers because fat in the liver often ties to metabolic health. Tests might include repeating liver enzymes, an ultrasound to look for fat, and noninvasive fibrosis assessments.
If you do not drink, they might still frame it as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease because the term is about cause not behavior. But what matters is whether the enzymes come from fat or something else.
Seems like they threw around a term without details. I would press for the exact numbers and what tests are planned. One test will not settle it.
Maybe the point is watchful waiting. You could frame the talk around lifestyle factors that affect metabolic health not just a single diagnosis.
To me it reads like a plot hook rather than a plan. What measurements would actually guide treatment and who decides when to escalate?
Bring a short list of questions such as what are the current values, is imaging or fibrosis testing planned, and what follow up timeline do you propose.