What causes high jaundice?

Jaundice is usually caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in the body. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced by the breakdown of red blood cells. When there is too much bilirubin in the body, the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow, which is jaundice. There are many different causes of jaundice, which may involve problems with the liver, bile duct, or red blood cells.

Liver disease is one of the common causes of high jaundice. The liver is the main organ for processing and eliminating bilirubin. When liver function is impaired, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver cancer, bilirubin is difficult to metabolize and excrete normally, which leads to its accumulation in the body. Imagine that the liver is like a factory that processes bilirubin. If there is a problem with the factory's machinery, the product will naturally accumulate.

Biliary obstruction may also cause high jaundice. The bile duct is the passage for bile to flow from the liver to the small intestine. If this passage is blocked by stones, tumors or inflammation, bile cannot flow normally and bilirubin will accumulate in the blood. It is like a river being blocked, and the water level will naturally rise.

Excessive destruction of red blood cells can also cause jaundice. This is common in hemolytic anemia. When the rate of red blood cell destruction exceeds the liver's ability to process bilirubin, bilirubin will accumulate in the body. You can think of red blood cells as a small car that transports bilirubin. If the car breaks down too quickly, the factory (liver) will not have time to process it, and bilirubin will accumulate.

After understanding the cause of high jaundice, we need to consider how to deal with it. Timely medical treatment is the key. The doctor will find out the specific cause through blood tests, imaging tests, etc. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as a proper diet, moderate exercise, and avoiding alcohol and drug abuse, can help maintain liver health.

In daily life, if you or your family members find that their skin or whites of the eyes are yellow, do not take it lightly. High jaundice may be an alarm sent by the body. Timely medical treatment and finding out the cause are the key to recovering health. By understanding the causes of high jaundice, we can better prevent and deal with this health problem. I hope this article can provide you with some useful information to help you better understand the possible causes of high jaundice.