Tuesday, April 23, 2024
HomeHealthHow To Test Kidney Function

How To Test Kidney Function

Improving Your Kidney Function Can Be Simple

Kidney Function Tests, Animation

So you see for many, improving kidney function doesnt need to be difficult. In most cases, simply by stepping to the side and getting out of your own way, checking your thoughts, fears, and excuses at the door, you can catalyse massive changes in your health, by simply allowing the healing to take place.

Rubbing Lanterns Wont Help Improve Your Kidney Function, But Heres What Can

Now stay with me I am not saying that that you can cure all by thinking just happy thoughts, wishing, and getting out of the way, no definitely not. There are many practical things you can do every day, with little to no fuss that are very effective in helping increase kidney function. Very helpful indeed.

Note: thinking positive however sure wont hurt, in fact it will go a long way your mindset is the single biggest determining factor on how quickly you heal.

So in tune with todays theme of simplicity, I would like to share with you 10 effortless tips that can be applied immediately to help your kidney function, no need to leave home, and no need to spend a dime.

What Is Kidney Transplantation

Kidney transplantation involves placing a healthy kidney into your body where it can perform all of the functions that a failing kidney cant. Kidneys for transplantation come from two sources: living donors and deceased donors. Living donors are usually immediate family members or sometimes spouses. This is possible because a person can live well with one healthy kidney.

High Blood Pressure And Kidney Disease

High blood pressure is increased pressure inside the arteries that carry blood from your heart to all parts of your body. Untreated, high blood pressure can damage your kidneys.

Also, high blood pressure can develop as a result of kidney disease or renal artery stenosis . Your kidneys control the amount of fluid in your blood vessels and produce a hormone called renin that helps to control blood pressure.

Also Check: Does Red Wine Cause Kidney Stones

What Is The Best Treatment For Me

You should consider many things when choosing a treatment for kidney failure, including your lifestyle, your age, any other health problems you may have, and whether you have a friend or relative to help you. Your decision should be based on more than your medical history and your doctors opinion. It should also be based on what you and your family wants. Learning about your treatment choices will help you decide which one is best for you.

Pixel By Labcorp Kidney Health Test Package

Kidney Function Test @Home: Purpose, Types, When to do ...

LabCorps kidney test is available for individuals aged 18 years and older. For the test, people need to provide a blood and urine sample.

According to LabCorps website, once customers buy a test, a physician reviews and approve their test request. Then, the individual visits one of the companys testing centers, where a trained technician takes their sample.

People generally receive their results through their online accounts, and if they require prompt attention, the company may contact them by phone or mail.

In addition, LabCorp states it performs its tests in CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified labs. The company also accepts HSA and FSA as payment options.

Advantages and drawbacks

Some advantages of LabCorps kidney test include the below.

  • The company accepts HSA and FSA as payment options.
  • Doctors review the customers test requests.
  • The company may call a person if they need to discuss their results.

However, people cannot perform this test at home. Instead, they need to visit a Pixel by Labcorp facility to provide their samples.

Read Also: Is Pomegranate Juice Good For Your Kidneys

Treatment For Stages 1 2 3 And 4

If your child is diagnosed in stages 1, 2, or 3 of CKD, they probably won’t have many symptoms, but their kidneys won’t be functioning the way that they should, which can lead to complications.

If your child’s kidneys aren’t properly regulating the acid levels in the blood, this may result in a condition called acidosis, which doesn’t have any symptoms. We can treat acidosis with bicarbonate, an oral medicine that balances the acid levels.

The kidneys regulate the level of calcium and phosphorous in your child’s body. If they begin to lose the ability to do this, we can supplement those minerals with activated vitamin D, medicines that prevent the absorption of calcium and phosphorous, and regulating diet.

Your child’s blood pressure may start to go up, and if we treat this with blood pressure medication early on, we can minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease as the condition progresses.

If your child’s kidneys aren’t making erythropoietin , a hormone that regulates how the body makes red blood cells, she may develop anemia and experience weakness, fatigue and/or have trouble concentrating. To relieve these symptoms, we may recommend EPObe given as a shot at home, usually weekly or every other week. Many symptoms associated with chronic kidney disease are related to anemia, so this treatment has a very good chance of making your child feel better.

How Is A Renal Panel Test Different From An Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Test

The renal panel is a broader test than an estimated glomerular filtration rate test, and in some cases, a renal panel involves eGFR.

The estimated glomerular filtration rate is a common method of evaluating kidney function. It can be calculated in several different ways and reflects how much blood is being filtered by the kidneys every minute.

The eGFR is usually determined with a mathematical formula based primarily on the amount of creatinine in the blood. Because creatinine is measured in most renal panels, the test report may also list eGFR. However, the renal panel also measures electrolytes, minerals, and other substances that can reflect the status of the kidneys.

Don’t Miss: Is Grape Juice Good For Kidney Stones

Why Kidney Function Tests Are Performed

Kidney function tests are performed for a variety of reasons, including something as simple as a yearly checkup, or a urinary tract infection is suspected. They may also be performed if an individual is ill and a diagnosis has not been made, as a screening test for a patient planning or recovering from surgery, or as a way to track kidney disease. Urinary tract infections are common after surgery, and some patients experience kidney dysfunction after a procedure, so these tests are frequently performed on patients recovering from surgery.

Kidney function tests are a reliable way of testing the kidneys, but it is important to remember that they can also change dramatically with illness or dehydration. Many individuals can have an acute problem with the kidneys that resolves after receiving fluids or other treatment.

What Should I Eat When I Have Kidney Failure

Kidney Function Tests (KFT) – An Overview

Dialysis helps to do some of the work that your kidneys did when they were healthy, but it cannot do everything that healthy kidneys do. Therefore, even when you are on dialysis, you will need to limit what and how much you eat and drink. Your diet needs may depend on the type of dialysis you are on and your treatment schedule. Learn more about the diet for living with kidney failure.

Learn what healthy eating means for people in every stage of kidney disease, including those on dialysis or living with a kidney transplant. Find recipes on Kidney Kitchen.

You May Like: Is Cranberry Juice Good For Your Liver And Kidneys

Don’t Miss: Does Red Wine Cause Kidney Stones

What Does The Test Measure

A renal panel includes multiple measurements. However, not all renal panel tests are exactly the same. The components can depend on the laboratory or the measurements requested by the doctor prescribing the test.

The most common components tested in most renal panels include:

Other measurements that may also included in a renal panel include:

  • Anion gap: The anion gap is a comparison of different electrolytes. Specific electrolytes can be positively or negatively charged, and this test assesses the balance between the two types. This measurement helps determine if you have too much or too little acid in your blood.
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate : The eGFR is an evaluation of kidney function. Glomeruli are tiny filters in the kidneys, and the eGFR is a calculation of how much blood they are filtering every minute. There are different ways to calculate eGFR, but most tests use a special formula based on your creatinine level.
  • Total protein: There are several kinds of proteins that can be found in the blood, and total protein is a count of all of them. These proteins include albumin and multiple types of globulins, which are made by the immune system.
  • BUN-to-creatinine ratio: In some cases, comparing the amounts of the waste products BUN and creatinine can provide information about whether abnormal levels are being caused by problems in the kidneys or another part of the body..

A Better Test For Kidney Function

Kidney function can be estimated more precisely by measuring blood levels of both creatinine and cystatin C than by using either marker alone, a new study found. The technique could help doctors more accurately diagnose chronic kidney disease.

The kidneys filter your blood, removing waste and extra water to make urine. The kidney’s filtration rate, called the glomerular filtration rate , reflects how well the kidneys are filtering. Accurate estimates of the GFR are important for identifying kidney disease, which often has no symptoms until just before the kidneys fail. An estimated 23 million American adults may have chronic kidney disease. They could take steps to protect their kidney function if their kidney disease were detected early.

The standard way to estimate GFR has been to measure blood levels of creatinine. Creatinine is a waste product from the digestion of dietary protein and the normal breakdown of muscle tissue. However, creatinine levels can be affected by several other factors, including diet, muscle mass, malnutrition and other chronic illnesses. One potential alternative is to measure cystatin C, which is produced by cells throughout the body and removed from blood by the kidneys.

The new creatinine-cystatin equation is more accurate over a broader range of kidney function and body size, and less altered by other medical conditions, Inker says.

Recommended Reading: Is Honey Good For Kidney

What Happens If I Forget To Collect One Urine Sample During Collection

Its very important to collect urine samples throughout the entire day for the creatinine clearance test to be accurate. If you skip one urine collection, it could affect the test results. Call your healthcare providers office if you miss a collection to see if you should continue the test or stop and start over the next day.

What Do The Kidneys Do

PPT

When blood flows to the kidney, sensors within specialized kidney cells regulate how much water to excrete as urine, along with what concentration of electrolytes. For example, if a person is dehydrated from exercise or from an illness, the kidneys will hold onto as much water as possible and the urine becomes very concentrated. When adequate water is present in the body, the urine is much more dilute, and the urine becomes clear. This system is controlled by renin, a hormone produced in the kidney that is part of the fluid and blood pressure regulation systems of the body.

Kidneys are also the source of erythropoietin in the body, a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells. Special cells in the kidney monitor the oxygen concentration in blood. If oxygen levels fall, erythropoietin levels rise and the body starts to manufacture more red blood cells.

Urine that is made by each kidney flows through the ureter, a tube that connects the kidney to the bladder. Urine is stored within the bladder, and when urination occurs, the bladder empties urine through a tube called the urethra.

Recommended Reading: What Causes Kidney Problems In Humans

Recommended Reading: Are Grapes Good For Kidney Stones

What Is A Kidney Function Or Kft Test

As the name suggests, it is a panel of tests to check the proper functioning of the Kidney. The test includes a number of parameters which are essential to determine the health of Kidneys.

Though in general, a KFT test is done on the blood sample, sometimes urine sample is also tested for certain parameters. However, testing of the urine sample is not common. Urine sample test is suggested if the doctor comprehend the specific problem related the kidneys.

Will I Need To Take Medicines Or Follow A Special Diet

Most likely. Your healthcare team will work with you to develop a treatment plan thats right for you. Your treatment plan may include taking medicines, restricting salt, limiting certain foods, getting exercise, and more. You will also need treatment for any other health problems you may have, including high blood pressure or diabetes.

Recommended Reading: Is Honey Good For Kidney

Where Can I Find Diabetes Relief

While there are prescription drugs for diabetes, nothing rather does the job totally. Thanks to current breakthroughs in scientific research studies & research study conducted at specialized diabetes centers across the nations, theres a brand-new service to speed up the outcomes & relief youre looking for.

Through the research study done by our authors, one extra procedure worth thinking about is natural supplements. Usually speaking, natural supplements have existed for thousands of years with amazing outcomes and have actually begun to make a huge return recently. Whats the natural supplement best for rapidly supporting diabetes? Let us introduce Glucofort.

What Are The Types Of Kidney Function Tests

How to Test Kidney Function When Taking Creatine | Chris Masterjohn Lite #61

Your healthcare provider may order one or a few different types of kidney function tests. You may have blood tests for kidney function, such as:

  • Blood urea nitrogen measures nitrogen in your blood.
  • Estimated GFR calculates filtration rates based on your protein levels, age, gender, size and race.
  • Serum creatinine looks for the buildup of creatinine, a waste product from muscle tissue breakdown.

Your healthcare provider may also use 24-hour urine tests, including:

  • Microalbuminuria looks for a specific protein called albumin.
  • Urinalysis evaluates your urine for blood, proteins and function.

Read Also: Is Orange Juice Good For Kidney Disease

Know Your Kidney Numbers: Two Simple Tests

Did you know one in three American adults is at risk for kidney disease? Anyone can get kidney disease at any time. If kidney disease is found and treated early, you can help slow or even stop it from getting worse. Most people with early kidney disease do not have symptoms. That is why it is important to be tested. Know your kidney numbers!

Your kidney numbers include 2 tests: ACR and GFR . GFR is a measure of kidney function and is performed through a blood test. Your GFR will determine what stage of kidney disease you have there are 5 stages. Know your stage.ACR is a urine test to see how much albumin is in your urine. Too much albumin in your urine is an early sign of kidney damage.

Tests Included In Kidney Function Test

The main function of the kidneys is to clear waste from our body. Thus kidney function profile includes such tests which are essential to kidney health.

Though the tests included in a kidney function test are not standardized and it may vary from one lab to another. However, certain important parameters are common. These following tests are commonly included:

You May Like: Is Watermelon Good For Kidneys

Kft Test For Specific Kidney Problems

The discussion above talks about the KFT test for general well being, however, a kidney function test may be done during suspected kidney problems. The following symptoms are common in kidney disorders:

  • Difficulty in passing Urine or pain during urination
  • Frequent urination especially during the night
  • Blood in urine
  • Fatigue or weakness: Kidney plays an important role in the production of RBC which may, in turn, cause less availability of oxygen.
  • High blood pressure
  • Swollen Hand or Foot, which may happen due to the accumulation of fluid in the body.
  • Frequent stomach upset may happen due to building up of waste in blood.
  • Persistent itching, chest pain & breathing difficulty may also develop due to a kidney problem.

Why Wait Until Your Kidneys Are Diseased

What is kidney function test?

While the study was conducted on people with kidney disease, we could safely extrapolate the recommendations to those who want to avoid kidney disease and achieve optimal kidney function now, especially as we age.

In fact, additional research points to the actuality of physiological changes in the kidneys as we age. The research notes that a progressive reduction of the glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow are observed in conjunction with aging. The reason for these phenomena is a decrease in the plasma flow in the glomerulus, a bundle of capillaries that partially form the renal corpuscle.2

In addition, the aging kidneys experience other structural changes, such as a loss of renal mass, and decreased responsiveness to stimuli that constrict or dilate blood vessels. The study concludes with a notable summation:

age-related changes in cardiovascular hemodynamics, such as reduced cardiac output and systemic hypertension, are likely to play a role in reducing renal perfusion and filtration. Finally, it is hypothesized that increases in cellular oxidative stress that accompany aging result in endothelial cell dysfunction and changes in vasoactive mediators resulting in increased atherosclerosis, hypertension and glomerulosclerosis.2

You May Like: Does Pop Cause Kidney Stones

The Incidence Of Kidney Disease Is Rising Screen Your Kidney Function With These Simple Blood And Urine Test

Written by Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : August 27, 2014 11:10 AM IST

Kidney problems do not develop overnight. Your kidney function naturally starts declining after you cross your 30s. And whether you will develop a kidney problem later in life is largely dependent on your lifestyle habits and diet. In most cases, kidney problems are caused as a result of a primary condition like diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol levels. Because the symptoms of kidney diseases are not evident unless the kidneys are deteriorated to a great extent , you should regularly screen your kidney function . Here are some kidney function tests that can determine whether you are at a risk of kidney disease.

1. Blood pressure: Your kidneys perform the function of filtering blood under pressure to eliminate waste products through the urine. If your blood pressure is higher than normal it will increase the load on your kidneys and may lead to kidney disease. Alternatively, a person is suffering from kidney disease is also likely to have high blood pressure. Read more about the medication for high blood pressure.

2. Blood creatinine test: Creatinine is a waste product that is produced by your muscles. It enters the bloodstream and is filtered by the kidneys to get excreted through the urine. A blood creatinine test will measure the amount of creatinine in your blood. A higher level may indicate that the kidneys are not functioning properly.

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular