What to do if bilirubin is high
Bilirubin is a yellow pigment in the human body, mainly produced by the breakdown of red blood cells. When bilirubin levels are too high, it may indicate problems with the liver or biliary system. This article will explain in detail the causes, symptoms, examinations and countermeasures of high bilirubin, and provide structured data for reference.
1. Common causes of high bilirubin

| Cause classification | Specific instructions |
|---|---|
| Liver disease | Hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, etc. |
| bile duct obstruction | Gallstones, bile duct tumors, pancreatitis, etc. |
| hemolytic disease | Hereditary hemolytic anemia, transfusion reactions, etc. |
| physiological factors | Neonatal jaundice, after strenuous exercise, etc. |
2. Typical symptoms of high bilirubin
When bilirubin is elevated, patients may experience the following symptoms:
| Symptom type | Specific performance |
|---|---|
| skin symptoms | Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), itching of the skin |
| digestive symptoms | Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, bloating |
| changes in urine | Darker urine color (tea-colored urine) |
| systemic symptoms | Fatigue, fever, weight loss |
3. How to check for high bilirubin
To diagnose high bilirubin, you need to pass the following tests:
| Check items | normal reference value | abnormal meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Total bilirubin (TBIL) | 3.4-20.5 μmol/L | >34.2 μmol/L is dominant jaundice |
| Direct bilirubin (DBIL) | 0-6.8 μmol/L | Elevated levels suggest obstructive or hepatocellular jaundice |
| Indirect bilirubin (IBIL) | 3.4-13.7 μmol/L | Elevated levels suggest hemolytic jaundice |
| liver function test | ALT/AST, etc. | Assess the extent of liver damage |
4. Countermeasures for high bilirubin
Depending on the cause of elevated bilirubin, the following treatments can be taken:
| Treatment direction | Specific measures |
|---|---|
| Cause treatment | Antiviral treatment (hepatitis B), surgical stone removal (gallstones), blood transfusion (hemolysis) |
| Hepatoprotective treatment | Glycyrrhizic acid preparations, silymarin and other drugs |
| Symptomatic treatment | Anti-jaundice medicine (ursodeoxycholic acid), anti-pruritic medicine |
| Life conditioning | Eat a light diet, stop drinking, and exercise moderately |
5. Recommendations for preventing elevated bilirubin
To prevent bilirubin elevation, please pay attention to the following aspects:
1.Regular physical examination: Check liver function every year, especially if you have a family history of liver disease
2.healthy eating: Reduce high-fat diet and increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables
3.Avoid liver-damaging factors: Limit alcohol consumption and use hepatotoxic drugs with caution
4.Get vaccinated: Timely vaccination of preventive vaccines such as hepatitis B vaccine
5.reasonable exercise: Maintain moderate exercise to avoid excessive fatigue
6. When you need immediate medical attention
You should seek medical attention immediately if:
• Skin jaundice continues to worsen
• Accompanied by high fever or severe abdominal pain
• Nervous system symptoms such as confusion occur
• Significant decrease in urine output
• Vomiting blood or black stool
Elevated bilirubin may be a signal of a variety of diseases, and it is crucial to promptly identify the cause and standardize treatment. The structured data and response suggestions provided in this article are for reference only. Please follow your doctor’s advice for specific diagnosis and treatment.
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