What is Gilbert's syndrome and should it be treated

What is Gilbert's syndrome

Gilbert's syndrome Gilbert's syndrome. Symptoms and Causes refers to a disorder in the liver. In general, it is harmless: the organ simply does not have time to break down and remove from the body bilirubin, a yellow pigment that is formed when red blood cells are destroyed. The substance begins to accumulate in the tissues of the body and may one day manifest itself as jaundice - yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Gilbert's syndrome is a hereditary disorder associated with the "breakdown" of one of the genes. According to statistics from Gilbert’s syndrome, up to 16% of the population, mostly men, suffer from it.

People with Gilbert's syndrome do not always have liver failure. Certain stress factors lead to noticeable problems with the withdrawal of bilirubin:

infectious diseases - the same cold or flu;
fasting or overly strict diet;
lack of fluid in the body (dehydration);
menstruation in women;
strong emotional experiences;
excessive physical activity;
lack of sleep;
taking certain medications.

At the same time, the level of bilirubin in the blood increases only slightly. Therefore, jaundice, if it occurs at all, may be subtle. And it disappears within a few hours: as soon as the stress recedes, the bilirubin decreases.

What are the symptoms of Gilbert's syndrome

The most characteristic symptom is mild jaundice (usually the case is limited only to yellowing of the whites of the eyes). But it does not always appear.

One in three Gilbert's syndrome people with Gilbert's syndrome have no symptoms at all.

Most often, a violation is discovered by accident. For example, when a person takes a blood test. Unreasonably elevated bilirubin - despite the fact that other blood parameters are normal, and the liver is completely healthy on examination - is considered Gilbert's syndrome. Diagnosis and Treatment is a clear indicator of Gilbert's syndrome. The diagnosis can be confirmed by genetic testing, but this is not necessary.

Why is Gilbert's syndrome dangerous?

In general, nothing. By itself, Gilbert's syndrome does not pose Gilbert’s syndrome as a threat to health, does not cause any serious complications, and does not increase the risk of liver disease. Another thing is dangerous: confusion with symptoms.

It is not only this harmless violation that manifests itself as jaundice. Yellowing of the eyes and skin can be a sign of much more dangerous diseases: hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, cancer of the bile ducts and pancreas. If you ignore the change in the shade of the tissues, attributing it to Gilbert's syndrome, there is a risk of starting a fatal disease to the stage when it turns out to be incurable.

If you have jaundice, see a physician urgently. Your life may depend on it.

You can ignore the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes only if two conditions are met at once:

You have already been diagnosed with Gilbert's syndrome.
Jaundice is subtle and clears up quickly.

In any other case, a visit to the doctor is required.

How to treat Gilbert's syndrome

That is unnecessary. The syndrome, as a rule, does not cause trouble - with the exception of occasional mild jaundice. To avoid exacerbations, doctors recommend the following:

Adhere to the rules of a healthy diet. The diet should be varied, include vegetables, fruits, cereals, meat and dairy products.
Avoid skipping meals and avoiding low-calorie diets.
Do not overdo it with physical activity.
Learn to control stress.
Be sure to inform the doctors about the peculiarities of your health. In rare cases, Gilbert's syndrome can exacerbate the side effects of certain medications, so it is important that your doctor is aware of your diagnosis.