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The enzyme amylase is one of the important enzymes in the digestive system. Excess or lack of levels of this enzyme can be a sign of he alth problems. Blood tests or urine tests are generally done to find out the levels in the body
The enzyme amylase is produced in the pancreas and salivary glands. In the digestive system, this enzyme acts as an agent that can accelerate the breakdown of carbohydrates into sugar.

When the pancreas is experiencing problems, such as inflammation, the production of the enzyme amylase can decrease or become more. Therefore, abnormal amylase levels can be a sign of a disorder in the pancreas.
Test to Know Amylase Enzyme Levels in the Body
Amylase enzyme levels can be known through blood and urine tests. In addition to knowing the amount of amylase enzyme in the body, this examination can also determine the cause of changes in amylase enzyme levels.
Checking amylase enzyme levels will generally be recommended by a doctor, if you experience severe upper right abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite.
The symptoms above can be a sign of a disorder in the pancreas, associated with an increase or decrease in the amount of the enzyme amylase in the body.
He alth Disorders Affecting Amylase Enzyme Levels
After getting the results of the examination, you can find out the possibility of certain diseases. Various he alth problems that can be characterized by increased levels of the enzyme amylase include:
- Acute pancreatitis
- Pancreatic abscess
- Pancreatic cancer
- Gastroenteritis
- stomach ulcer
- Cholecystitis
- Pregnancy outside the womb or ectopic pregnancy
- Intestinal obstruction
- Appendix
- Infection of the salivary glands, for example due to mumps
- Post surgery in the stomach area
- The effect of certain drugs, such as aspirin, birth control pills, and thiazide diuretics
Meanwhile, if the level of the amylase enzyme is low, some he alth problems that can occur include:
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Preeclampsia
- kidney disease
- cystic fibrosis
Even so, a slightly increased or decreased amylase level is usually not always a sign of a disease, sometimes it is even considered normal.
To determine whether changes in amylase enzyme levels are caused by a disease, doctors usually recommend a series of other tests, such as complete blood tests, lipase enzyme levels, and abdominal ultrasound or CT scan.
If the results of the examination show a change in the level of the amylase enzyme, try to consult a doctor. The doctor will also determine whether the value points to a disease or not and recommend further tests if needed.