What Causes Elevated Blood Urea Nitrogen Test
But elevated blood urea nitrogen can also be due to: If kidney damage is a concern, ask your doctor what factors may be contributing to the damage and what steps you can take to try to control them. Blood urea nitrogen , serum. Mayo Medical Laboratories. http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/81793.
Chronic Kidney Disease Symptom
High Creatinine Level
Early kidney disease is a silent problem, like high blood pressure, and does not have any symptoms. People may have CKD but not know it because they do not feel sick. A person’s glomerular filtration rate is a measure of how well the kidneys are filtering wastes from the blood. GFR is estimated from a routine measurement of creatinine in the blood. The result is called the estimated GFR .
Creatinine is a waste product formed by the normal breakdown of muscle cells. Healthy kidneys take creatinine out of the blood and put it into the urine to leave the body. When the kidneys are not working well, creatinine builds up in the blood.
Other causes of elevated blood creatinine levels are:
- Certain drugs can sometimes cause abnormally elevated creatinine levels.
- Serum creatinine can also transiently increase after ingestion of a large amount of dietary meat thus,nutrition can sometimes play a role in creatinine measurement.
- Kidney infections,rhabdomyolysis and urinary tract obstruction may also elevate creatinine levels.
Slightly Elevated Kidney Levels
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Do I Need To Fast Before The Creatinine Clearance Test
In general, you can eat normally before and during the creatinine clearance test. However, you may be asked not to eat overnight. Your provider may also ask you not to eat meat before the test. This could change the results because theres higher levels of creatine in meat, which would cause your body to have higher levels of creatinine during the test.
Glomerular Filtration Rate Based On Creatinine Measurement
GFR is a calculation of how efficiently the kidneys are filtering wastes from the blood. A traditional GFR calculation requires an injection into the bloodstream of a substance that is later measured in a 24-hour urine collection. Recently, scientists found they could calculate GFR without an injection or urine collection. The new calculation requires only a measurement of the creatinine in a blood sample.
Creatinine is a waste product in the blood created by the normal breakdown of muscle cells during activity. Healthy kidneys take creatinine out of the blood and put it into the urine to leave the body. When kidneys are not working well, creatinine builds up in the blood.
In the lab, your blood will be tested to see how many milligrams of creatinine are in one deciliter of blood . Creatinine levels in the blood can vary, and each laboratory has its own normal range, usually 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL. If your creatinine level is only slightly above this range, you probably will not feel sick, but the elevation is a sign that your kidneys are not working at full strength.
One formula for estimating kidney function equates a creatinine level of 1.7 mg/dL for most men and 1.4 mg/dL for most women to 50 percent of normal kidney function. But because creatinine values are so variable and can be affected by diet, a GFR calculation is more accurate for determining whether a person has reduced kidney function.
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What Happens When Your Bun Level Is High
Lower your Blood urea nitrogen by 8 mg/dL to be within normal range. High BUN levels are usually caused by a problem with your kidneys. Kidney damage can lead to a variety of symptoms, including weakness, shortness of breath, confusion, and fatigue.
BUN/Creatinine Ratio A BUN test is usually done with a blood creatinine test. The level of creatinine in your blood also tells how well your kidneys are working. A high creatinine level may signal problems with the kidneys or heart, but if its slightly elevated, it could simply mean that your diet is high in protein .
What Is Kidney Disease
In simple terms, kidney disease means your kidneys have become damaged and can no longer perform their key functions properly. Its a serious condition and its important to receive immediate medical care.
There are two forms of kidney disease:
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Acute kidney disease is known to occur pretty suddenly and over a short period of time, its sometimes referred to as acute kidney injury.
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Chronic kidney disease is a long-term condition which can get worse over time, sometimes developing into chronic kidney failure,
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Over Time High Blood Pressure Harms Renal Blood Vessels
The nephrons in the kidneys are supplied with a dense network of blood vessels, and high volumes of blood flow through them. Over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause arteries around the kidneys to narrow, weaken or harden. These damaged arteries are not able to deliver enough blood to the kidney tissue.
- Damaged kidney arteries do not filter blood well. Kidneys have small, finger-like nephrons that filter your blood. Each nephron receives its blood supply through tiny hair-like capillaries, the smallest of all blood vessels. When the arteries become damaged, the nephrons do not receive the essential oxygen and nutrients and the kidneys lose their ability to filter blood and regulate the fluid, hormones, acids and salts in the body.
- Damaged kidneys fail to regulate blood pressure. Healthy kidneys produce a hormone called aldosterone to help the body regulate blood pressure. Kidney damage and uncontrolled high blood pressure each contribute to a negative spiral. As more arteries become blocked and stop functioning, the kidneys eventually fail.
How To Treat Low Kidney Function
Although there is no cure for chronic kidney disease , your doctor can work with you to treat and manage your existing symptoms, reduce underlying issues, and find ways to slow down disease progression. Some of the treatments are universal, while others depend upon the stage of CKD you are in.
A healthy diet and lifestyle combined with appropriate medications for symptom control is the most common treatment for kidney disease in its early stages. Renal replacement therapy, such as dialysis or a kidney transplant, is reserved for end-stage kidney disease .
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Improving Your Kidney Function Can Be Simple
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.
Will I Feel Any Pain During The Creatinine Clearance Test
The creatinine clearance test is generally painless. The first part of the test involves normal urination over a 24-hour period of time. You might experience some discomfort from the needle when you have your blood drawn. This is a necessary part of the test and happens quickly. Some people describe having their blood drawn as a stinging feeling. Its possible to feel some throbbing or have a slight bruise after having your blood drawn. However, all of this discomfort goes away quickly.
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Who Has Low Or High Blood Creatinine Levels
- Muscular young or middle-aged adults may have more creatinine in their blood than the norm for the general population.
- Elderly persons may have less creatinine in their blood than the norm. Infants have normal levels of about 0.2 or more, depending on their muscle development.
- In people with malnutrition, severe weight loss, and long standing illnesses, the muscle mass tends to diminish over time and, therefore, their creatinine level may be lower than expected for their age.
What Happens During A Creatinine Test
Creatinine can be tested in blood or urine.
For a creatinine blood test:
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
For a creatinine urine test:
Your health care provider will ask you to collect all urine during a 24-hour period. Your health care provider or a laboratory professional will give you a container to collect your urine and instructions on how to collect and store your samples. A 24-hour urine sample test generally includes the following steps:
- Empty your bladder in the morning and flush that urine away. Record the time.
- For the next 24 hours, save all your urine passed in the container provided.
- Store your urine container in the refrigerator or a cooler with ice.
- Return the sample container to your health provider’s office or the laboratory as instructed.
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Nutrition And Low Kidney Function
Food is what our bodies use for growth, homeostasis, and healing. This is why its important for you to consult with a dietician who is knowledgeable about kidney disease. Youll need to find and maintain a balance between the levels of electrolytes, minerals, and fluid in your body.
A modified diet for chronic kidney disease may include adjustments to your intake of the following food items:
Who Has A Blood Test Of Kidney Function
Routine kidney function is one of the most commonly performed blood tests. It may be done:
- As part of a general health assessment.
- If you have suspected low body water content , when the urea level increases.
- If you have suspected kidney failure. The higher the blood levels of urea and creatinine, the less well the kidneys are working. The level of creatinine is usually used as a marker as to the severity of kidney failure. Creatinine in itself is not harmful but a high level indicates that the kidneys are not working properly. So, many other waste products will not be cleared out of the bloodstream. You normally need treatment with dialysis if the level of creatinine goes higher than a certain value.
- Before and after starting treatment with certain medicines. Some medicines occasionally cause kidney damage as a side-effect. Therefore, kidney function is often checked before and after starting treatment with certain medicines.
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Why Creatinine Tests Are Done
Doctors use creatinine and creatinine clearance tests to check how well your kidneys work. This is called renal function. Testing the rate of creatinine clearance shows the kidneys’ ability to filter the blood. As renal function gets worse, creatinine clearance also goes down. Your doctor may also order a creatinine test if you have symptoms of kidney disease, including:
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Nausea
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Changes in how much you pee
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Swollen feet and ankles
Should You Check Your Kidney Function
If youre concerned about symptoms that youre experiencing, its important to make a trip to your doctor for a check-up.
If you simply want to know a bit more about your kidney health, you have the option to take a kidney function test from the comfort of your own home. With LetsGetCheckeds Kidney Function Test you can monitor your kidney function and performance and receive your online results within 5 days.
You should consider taking a Kidney Function Test if any of the below are applicable to you:
- You suffer from high blood pressure
- You suffer from diabetes
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What Happens During The Creatinine Clearance Test
You will do the creatinine clearance test over 24 hours. During this time, you will collect your urine each time you urinate. This will give your healthcare provider a good idea of your creatinine levels throughout the entire day.
Make sure to follow the directions from your healthcare provider closely. These instructions will include details about how to store your urine sample and where you will take it when the test is over.
After 24 hours of collecting your urine, you will need to have your blood drawn. This second part of the test looks at the amount of creatinine in your bloodstream. This is called serum creatinine. Your results from both of these tests will be plugged into a mathematic formula that determines your creatinine clearance. This rate tells your provider just how well your kidneys are filtering waste products out of your bloodstream.
What Should My Bun Be At 28 Mg / Dl
This analysis helps you to check if your BUN value is within normal range. Your BUN value of 28 mg/dL is way too high. A good Blood urea nitrogen is usually between 7 and 20 mg/dL. Lower your Blood urea nitrogen by 8 mg/dL to be within normal range. High BUN levels are usually caused by a problem with your kidneys.
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The Amount Of Urine I Produce Has Not Decreased Doesn’t That Mean My Kidneys Are Functioning Alright
The kidneys still produce the same amount of urine up to – and even after – a patient with kidney failure first starts dialysis. Kidney function is described using the term “glomerular filtration rate,” or GFR. The GFR in a person with normal kidney function is 120 milliliters per minute. This means that each minute 120 milliliters is filtered from the blood into the kidneys. After three minutes, the amount filtered by the kidneys from the blood is about the same amount of fluid as in a can of soda. Over a 24-hour period, the total fluid filtered by the kidneys from the blood in a patient with normal kidney function is roughly 50 gallons! Of course, people do not produce 50 gallons of urine per day. That is because the kidneys reclaim over 99% of the water and minerals filtered by the kidney into roughly two quarts of urine. Therefore, a patient with kidney function that is 20% of normal will still filter 10 gallons of fluid from the blood per day. That person still produces two quarts of urine just like someone with normal kidney function, but only eliminates 20% of the kidney poisons in the urine compared to a person with normal kidney function.
What Is The Prognosis For High And Low Creatinine Levels
The prognosis for high creatinine levels depends on the underlying cause.
If high creatinine levels are due to kidney disease, it depends on the stage of the illness. Kidney disease often progresses slowly, and early stages may often be managed with a healthy diet, exercise, and proper medications. In later stages, dialysis or even kidney transplantation may be needed.
If creatinine levels are elevated due to dehydration, then rehydration often fixes the problem with no lasting effects.
Low levels of creatinine are usually not considered a serious medical problem. In cases where patients can increase muscle mass, this may be helpful.
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Experimental Treatments For Ckd
Research is ongoing to find new treatments and interventions that will someday soon render dialysis and kidney donation unnecessary. The Harvard Stem Cell Institute is just one of many institutions exploring a wide variety of options, such as experimental treatments.
Harvards current kidney disease research path has three tiers:
- Short-term: This research is intended to repair damaged kidneys by using regenerative medicineor cell replacement therapyusing mesenchymal stem cells . These cells are our bodys natural defense against kidney damage.
- Medium-term: This involves identifying the types of kidney cells most susceptible to damage in order to target the specific cell types with appropriate medications.
- Long-term: The long-term goal is to use stem cells and nanotechnology to create an artificial kidney that can be used in transplant surgerieseliminating the need to rely solely on human kidneys. Thus far, scientists have created a rat kidney that is being tested on lab animals.
Clinical trials are also being run by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to test the effectiveness and safety of pirfenidone in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
Can The Creatinine Clearance Test Be Wrong
The creatinine clearance test is generally a reliable test. Creatinine clearance is only an estimate of GFR, and in some cases can provide a result that is higher than what your GFR really is. In addition, there are a few reasons that the results could be wrong. These include:
- If you didnt collect all urine samples as directed.
- If the math formula used to figure out your creatinine clearance isnt done correctly.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/16/2020.
References
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