Increased Consumption Of Protein
What a person eats can have a significant impact on creatinine levels. For example, proteins and cooked meat contain creatinine, so eating more than the recommended amount of meat or other proteins for your activity levels, or adding extra protein to the diet through supplements can cause high creatinine levels.
What Do My Creatinine Blood Test Results Mean
Creatinine is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood . People who are more muscular tend to have higher creatinine levels. Results may also vary depending on age and gender.
In general, however, normal creatinine levels range from 0.9 to 1.3 mg/dL in men and 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL in women who are 18 to 60 years old. Normal levels are roughly the same for people over 60.
High serum creatinine levels in the blood indicate that the kidneys arent functioning properly.
Your serum creatinine levels may be slightly elevated or higher than normal due to:
- dehydration
- kidney problems, such as kidney damage or infection
- reduced blood flow to the kidneys due to shock, congestive heart failure, or complications of diabetes
If your creatinine is truly elevated and its from an acute or chronic kidney injury, the level wont decrease until the problem is resolved. If it was temporarily or falsely elevated due to dehydration, a very high-protein diet, or supplement usage, then reversal of those conditions will lower the level. Also, a person receiving dialysis will have lower levels after a treatment.
Its uncommon to have low levels of creatinine, but this can occur as a result of certain conditions that cause decreased muscle mass. Theyre usually not any cause for concern.
What Should I Do After Getting My Creatinine Test Results
It is important to tell your doctor about any medicines you are currently taking, both prescription and over-the-counter. Some drugs, like cimetidine, chemotherapy drugs, cephalosporin antibiotics, may increase your creatinine levels and impact your test results. Your doctor may take this into consideration when interpreting your lab test results.
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What Is The Normal Level Of Creatinine
The normal range of creatinine varies with age, race, gender, and body size.In general,
- The normal range of creatinine for adult men: 0.74 to 1.35 mg/dL
- The normal range of creatinine for adult women: 0.59 to 1.04 mg/dL
In general, while muscular young or middle-aged adults may have more creatinine in their blood than the general population, elderly people may have lower creatinine. For people who are dealing with malnutrition, severe weight loss, and chronic conditions, creatinine levels might be lower than other people of the same age group, owing to a reduction in muscle mass over time.
Too Much Phosphorous Can Cause Itchy Skin For Patients On Dialysis
An excess of phosphorus in the blood can make skin feel itchy, and it can also pull calcium from the bones, leading to fractures. Processed foods are often high in phosphorus and should be avoided. Patients on dialysis should work with a dietician to manage dietary intake of phosphorus. Medications called phosphate binders may be prescribed to help absorb phosphorus from the food and allow it to pass through the body without being absorbed into the bloodstream.
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Liver & Kidney Function
*Albumin This is the most plentiful protein in the blood. Approximately two-thirds of the total protein circulating in your blood is albumin. It is produced primarily in the liver and helps keep the fluid protein of the blood within the blood vessels. When your albumin level is too low, water can leak into other parts of your body and cause swelling. This can be caused by malnutrition, too much water in the body, liver or kidney disease, severe injury or major bone fractures and slow bleeding over a long period.
*Alkaline Phosphatase An enzyme found in many body tissues, but the most important sites are bone, liver, bile ducts and gut. A high level of alkaline phosphatase in your blood may indicate bone, liver or bile duct disease. Certain drugs may also cause increased levels. Low values are not generally considered significant.
ALT The ALT enzyme is found mainly in the liver. Damage from alcohol, strenuous exercise and several diseases can cause high values for both AST and ALT and should be evaluated by your health care provider. Low values are not generally considered significant.
AST This is an enzyme that is found in many body tissues, but the most important sites are bone, liver, bile ducts and gut. A high level of alkaline phosphatase in your blood may indicate bone, liver or bile duct disease. Certain drugs may also cause increased levels. Low values are not generally considered significant.
*These also have multiple functions throughout the body.
What Do The Results Of My Kidney Function Test Mean
Interpreting blood test results can be difficult. Your doctor or nurse will contact you if there is anything that needs discussing or further action is needed. Increased creatinine levels in your blood suggest diseases that affect kidney function such as:
- diabetic kidney disease;
- pyelonephritis
- urinary tract obstruction, or;reduced blood flow to your kidneys due to shock, dehydration, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis or complications of diabetes.
High urea levels suggest impaired kidney function. This may be due to acute or chronic kidney disease. However, there are many things besides kidney disease that can affect urea levels, such as dehydration, decreased blood flow to your kidneys as in congestive heart failure, shock, stress, recent heart attack or severe burns, bleeding from your gastrointestinal tract, conditions that cause obstruction of urine flow.
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Is Knowing Creatinine Values Tell My Doctor If My Kidneys Are Working Properly
Your doctor needs to look at how much creatinine is in your blood along with some other important parameters as well. The reason is creatinine levels in your blood can be affected by your age, race, gender, and body size. The best way to know if your kidneys are functioning well is to look at your glomerular filtration rate and creatinine. GFR is a measure of how much blood passes through the tiny filters of the kidneys each minute. If the kidneys are damaged, they shall pass lesser blood to get filtered. Please note that creatinine is considered a late marker of acute kidney injury because kidney function is decreased by almost 50% before a rise in serum creatinine is observed.
Creatinine Blood Test: References
Creatinine Blood Test. . Medline Plus. Retrieved 10/10/14 from .
Lab Tests Online ââ¬â Creatinine: The Test ââ¬â no author, last updated 4/3/2014. Accessed 6/22/14 â
Lab Tests Online ââ¬â Creatinine: Common Questions ââ¬â no author listed, last updated 4/3/2014. Accessed 6/23/2014 â
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics ââ¬â Creatinine blood test â last reviewed by David C. Dugdale, III, MD, on 8/4/2013. Accessed 6/22/14 â
University of Maryland ââ¬â Creatine ââ¬â no author listed, last updated May 7, 2013. Accessed 6/23/2014 â
University of Rochester Medical Center ââ¬â Creatinine ââ¬â last reviewed by Marcellin, Lindsey, MD, MPH and Stump-Sutliff, Kim, RN, MSN, AOCNS, no date listed. Accessed 6/22/14 â
WebMD.Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance Blood Tests.10/2012. Accessed 9/2013 from .
LabTestsOnline. Creatinine. 11/29/2012. Accessed 1/24/2013 from .
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What Can I Do To Make My Creatinine Level Normal
Creatinine is a reflection of processes that are going on in your body and of kidney function. It is not generally responsive to lifestyle changes. If you have an elevated creatinine that is due to a temporary condition, such as a kidney infection, then it should return to normal;as the infection resolves. If it is elevated due to an underlying chronic condition that can affect kidney function, such as diabetes, then it will reflect changes in kidney function and is likely to stabilize if or when the condition is under control.
Do I Need Any Other Tests
Yes, another important test to check kidney function is a urine test. You will be asked to pee into a clean cup called a specimen cup. Only about two tablespoons of urine is needed;to do the test. The urine will be sent to a laboratory, where a test called an ACR is done. An ACR shows whether you have a type of protein called;albumin in your urine.;A normal amount of albumin in your urine is less than 30 mg/g.; Anything above 30 mg/g may mean you have kidney disease, even if your GFR number is above 60.
This test is also used to look at how likely it is that a persons kidney disease will get worse. This is called risk for progression. Having high amounts of albumin points to a higher risk.
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What Is A Bun/creatinine Ratio
Occasionally, a healthcare practitioner will look at the ratio between a persons BUN and blood creatinine to help determine what is causing these concentrations to be higher than normal. The ratio of BUN to creatinine is usually between 10:1 and 20:1. An increased ratio may be due to a condition that causes a decrease in the flow of blood to the kidneys, such as congestive heart failure or dehydration. It may also be seen with increased protein, from gastrointestinal bleeding, or increased protein in the diet. The ratio may be decreased with liver disease and malnutrition.
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.
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The Only Purpose Of The Kidneys Is To Filter Blood
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs, located just below the ribcage on either side of the spine. They help filter your blood by removing waste and excess fluids, but they do much more. The kidneys help maintain the balance of electrolytes in the body. In addition, hormones produced by the kidney help regulate your blood pressure, make red blood cells, and help keep your bones strong.
Understanding Your Lab Values
People who develop chronic kidney disease may have some or all of the following tests and measurements. If you have kidney disease ask your doctor which tests you will have and how often they will be done. Speak to your doctor about your results. If your numbers are not in the normal range, ask how to improve them.
Serum Creatinine: Creatinine is a waste product in your blood that comes from muscle activity. It is normally removed from your blood by your kidneys, but when kidney function slows down, the creatinine level rises. Your doctor should use the results of your serum creatinine test to calculate your GFR.
Glomerular Filtration Rate : Your GFR tells how much kidney function you have. It may be estimated from your blood level of creatinine. If your GFR falls below 30 you will need to see a kidney disease specialist . A GFR below 15 indicates that you need to start a treatment for kidney failure. Your kidney disease specialist will speak to you about treatments for kidney failure, such as dialysis or kidney transplant.
Blood Urea Nitrogen : Urea nitrogen is a normal waste product in your blood that comes from the breakdown of protein from the foods you eat and from your body metabolism. It is normally removed from your blood by your kidneys, but when kidney function slows down, the BUN level rises. BUN can also rise if you eat more protein, and it can fall if you eat less protein.
COVID-19 patients can become kidney patients.
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What Is The Creatinine Clearance Test
The creatinine clearance test is an older test used to check your kidney function. This test allows your healthcare provider to look at samples of your urine and blood to see how much of the waste product creatinine is filtered out by your kidneys. Abnormal levels of creatinine in your urine and blood could point to an issue like kidney disease.
Done in two parts, the creatinine clearance test involves collecting your urine over a 24-hour period of time and then having your blood drawn. These samples are then tested to see how much creatinine was filtered through your kidneys over the 24-hour window. The results of the test will be used in a mathematic formula that figures out your creatinine clearance. Creatinine clearance is one way to estimate your glomerular filtration rate , or how well the kidneys are filtering your blood. The GFR is the main number used by your provider to determine how well your kidneys are working.
The creatinine clearance test is not used very often any more. It has largely been replaced by the estimated GFR equations using creatinine levels in the blood which means a 24-hour urine collection is not needed.
What Is A Blood Chemistry Screening
Blood Chemistry Screening is a comprehensive blood test that gives a general overview of your health. This screening checks your major systems which can put you at increased risk of complications from COVID-19 including cholesterol levels for heart health, tests for kidney liver health and the chance of becoming diabetic, etc.
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How Can Blood Pressure Be Controlled
The NHLBI recommends five lifestyle changes that help control blood pressure. People with prehypertension or high blood pressure should
- Weight: maintain their weight at a level close to normal
- Diet: eat fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, and low-fat dairy foods.
- Sodium: limit their daily salt, or sodium, intake to 2,000 milligrams. They should limit frozen foods and trips to fast food restaurants. They should read nutrition labels on packaged foods to learn how much sodium is in one serving. Keeping a sodium diary can help monitor sodium intake.
- Exercise: get plenty of exercise-at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as walking, cycling, or swimming, most days of the week.
- Alcohol: avoid consuming too much alcohol. Men should have no more than two drinks-two 12-ounce servings of beer or two 5-ounce servings of wine or two 1.5-ounce servings of hard liquor-a day. Women should have no more than a single serving a day because differences in the way foods are broken down in the body make women more sensitive to the effects of alcohol.
Urine Is Made In The Kidneys
Each day, the kidneys filter up to 150 quarts of blood and produce 1 to 2 quarts of urine, which is composed of body wastes and extra water. The urine passes from the kidneys through tubes called ureters, into the bladder where it is stored until it is filled. When the bladder reaches capacity, signals are sent to the brain that it is time to urinate, and the urine is released out of the body through a tube called the urethra.
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What If My Test Result Is Not Normal
Test results are only one part of a larger picture that takes into account your medical history, physical exam, and current health. Sometimes a test needs to be repeated to check the first result. Talk to your healthcare provider about your result and ask questions, such as:
- If you need more tests
- What kind of treatment you may need
- What lifestyle, diet, or other changes you might need to make
What Do Abnormal Creatinine Levels Mean
So, you went to the doctor, did the tests, and the results are in: You have high creatinine levels. Now what? Step onedont panic. Elevated creatinine doesnt necessarily mean your kidneys are in a downward spiral. Anything outside the normal range may cause a healthcare provider to investigate further, but doesnt always spell danger. Numerous factors can influence your test results. Here are just a few:
- Increased exercise: Have you been on a fitness kick? In the gym every day? This spike in muscle breakdown will increase the production of creatinine.
- Increased protein consumption: Cooked meats contain creatinine, so if youre feasting on steak and roast chicken every night, you could see higher levels.;
- Urinary tract blockage: If you cant urinate, your body cant eliminate creatinine, so kidney stones and other urinary disruptions will allow it to remain in your bloodstream.
- Certain medications: Sometimes, drugs can be the culprit. The antibiotic trimethoprim and Cimetidine, a stomach ulcer and heartburn medication, can inhibit creatinine secretion. Sometimes, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen, can also be a cause.
- High blood pressure:Studies have also shown that hypertension, heart failure, and other heart conditions can cause increased creatinine levels.
Likewise, low creatinine isnt always dangerous. It could be the result of low muscle mass , pregnancy, a low-protein diet, or certain liver conditions.;
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