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RENAL - How to Reduce Creatine Level in Blood With Natural Treatment?

BY A R ON AUGUST 21, 2011

Creatine is a nitrogenous organic acid that is naturally produced in the human body where it is primarily stored in the muscles to supply energy to the body’s cells. When creatine is metabolized, creatinine is produced and eliminated from the body through the kidneys. When kidneys aren’t functioning well, levels of creatine in the body is increased causing problems.

Reduce Creatine Levels

A person with high creatine levels is at great risk of dehydration, heart and kidney damage, and even death. To reduce creatine levels, the following are effective ways:

• For a person taking creatine supplements, reduce the amount being taken.

• Drink as much fluid as possible, creatine levels can be lowered by urination.

• Always check one’s creatine levels by taking frequent blood tests. This will indicate if creatine is being excreted properly out of the body.

• Eat a proper diet that is helpful for the kidneys.

• If creatine levels are not controlled by diet and medication, doctors may conclude a failing of the kidneys, therefore causing the patient to begin dialysis.

How to Reduce Creatine Level in Blood

Due to high creatine level in the blood, certain conditions cause the kidneys to malfunction. But other than kidney disease, dehydration and urinary bladder obstruction are also reasons why blood creatine level is high.

To help reduce creatine level in the blood, the following must be done:

• Have a complete physical examination.

• Follow the doctor’s advice.

• Increase fluid intake.

• Control your diet to reduce one’s daily calorie intake.

• Exercise daily.

• Eat foods that are good for the kidneys like lettuce, cabbage, onions, carrots, cranberries, sprouts, omega 3-rich foods, high fiber foods etc.

• Decrease consumption of foods harmful for the kidneys like red meat, dairy products, caffeine containing drinks and such.

• Always get a blood test of one’s creatine levels at least every year or more often of necessary.

Natural Treatment for High Creatine Level in Blood

To help the body excrete excess creatine, here are some measures to do.

• Increase fluid intake to flush out creatinine from the kidney.

• Drink cranberry juice as it is helpful in treatment of urinary tract infections.

• Include vegetables in your diet like cucumber, lettuce, cauliflower and carrots. These vegetables can help manage kidney disorders.

• Refrain from drinking too much alcohol.

• Avoid red meat and foods rich in flour and sugar as they are likely to meddle with kidney functions.

• The use of ginseng is also beneficial in reducing creatine levels in the blood.

• Aloe Vera juice also enhances kidney functions. It helps to control blood sugar and blood pressure.

• Exercise regularly to burn off calories.

Source: http://www.simple-remedies.com/

RENAL - Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance Blood Tests

Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance Blood Tests

Creatinine is a waste product from the normal breakdown of muscle tissue. As creatinine is produced, it's filtered through the kidneys and excreted in urine. Doctors measure the blood creatinine level as a test of kidney function. The kidneys' ability to handle creatinine is called the creatinine clearance rate, which helps to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) -- the rate of blood flow through the kidneys.

Normal Kidney Function and the GFR

All the blood in the body flows through the kidneys hundreds of times each day. The kidneys push the liquid part of blood through tiny filters (called nephrons), then reabsorb most of the fluid back into the blood. The fluid and waste products that the kidneys don't reabsorb are excreted as urine. 

The rate of blood flow through the kidneys is the glomerular filtration rate, or GFR. (The glomeruli are microscopic bundles of blood vessels inside nephrons, and are crucial parts of the filtering system.) The glomerular filtration rate can't be measured directly -- that's where measuring creatinine and creatinine clearance comes in.

What Is Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance?

Creatinine is a waste product that is produced continuously during normal muscle breakdown. The kidneys filter creatinine from the blood into the urine, and reabsorb almost none of it. 

The amount of blood the kidneys can make creatinine-free each minute is called the creatinine clearance. Creatinine clearance in a healthy young person is about 125 milliliters per minute -- meaning each minute, that person's kidneys clear 125 mL of blood free of creatinine. The GFR can vary depending on age, sex, and size. Generally, the creatinine clearance is a good estimation of the glomerular filtration rate.

Measuring Creatinine Clearance and Renal Function

Doctors use creatinine and creatinine clearance tests to check renal function (kidney function). Testing the rate of creatinine clearance shows the kidneys' ability to filter the blood. As renal function declines, creatinine clearance also goes down. 

There are two main ways doctors use creatinine tests to measure kidney function: 

• Creatinine clearance can be precisely determined by measuring the amount of creatinine present in a sample of urine collected over 24 hours. This method requires a person to urinate exclusively in a plastic jug for one day, then bring it in for testing. Although the urine creatinine measurement method is inconvenient, it may be necessary to diagnose some kidney conditions. 
• GFR can be estimated using a single blood level of creatinine, which your doctor enters into a formula. Different formulas are available, which take into account age, sex, and sometimes weight and ethnicity. The higher the blood creatinine level, the lower the estimated GFR and creatinine clearance. 

For practical reasons, the blood test estimation method for GFR is used far more often than the 24-hour urine collection test for creatinine clearance.

Understanding an Abnormal Creatinine Test Result

A low GFR or creatinine clearance demonstrates kidney disease. The decline in kidney function can be either acute (sudden, often reversible) or chronic (long-term and irreversible). Repeated GFR or creatinine clearance measurements over time can identify kidney disease as acute or chronic. 

Kidney function and creatinine clearance naturally decline with age. Fortunately, the kidneys have a huge reserve capacity. Most people can lose well over half their renal function without symptoms or significant problems. 

Doctors determine the severity of chronic kidney disease with a staging system that uses GFR: 

Stage 1: GFR 90 or greater (normal kidney function)

Stage 2: GFR 60-90  (mild decline in kidney function)

Stage 3: GFR 30-59 (moderate decline in kidney function)

Stage 4: GFR 15-29 (severe decline in kidney function)

Stage 5: GFR less than 15 (kidney failure, usually requiring dialysis) 

People over age 60 may have an apparently normal creatinine blood level, but still have a low GFR and creatinine clearance. The 24-hour urine collection method, or one of the GFR estimation formulas, can more accurately identify the decline in kidney function.

What to Do About a Low Creatinine Clearance

If you have a low GFR or creatinine clearance, your doctor will design an action plan with you to address the problem. 

The main causes of chronic kidney disease are high blood pressure and diabetes. If you have these conditions, the first step is to get them under control with improved diet, exercise, and medications. If these conditions are not present, further testing may be needed to identify the cause of kidney disease. 

Periodically checking the GFR or creatinine clearance allows you and your doctor to follow any decline in kidney function over time. Your doctor may need to make changes in your medications to adjust for any decline in renal function. 

Most people do not need dialysis until GFR and creatinine clearance fall very low. However, because kidney function naturally declines with age, it's important to take action early to preserve all the kidney function you can.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/

RENAL - Acute Kidney Injury

What is acute kidney injury?

Acute kidney injury (also called acute renal failure) means that your kidneys have suddenly stopped working. Your kidneys remove waste products and help balance water and salt and other minerals (electrolytes) in your blood. When your kidneys stop working, waste products, fluids, and electrolytes build up in your body. This can cause problems that can be deadly.

What causes acute kidney injury?

Acute kidney injury has three main causes:

• A sudden, serious drop in blood flow to the kidneys. Heavy blood loss, an injury, or a bad infection called sepsis can reduce blood flow to the kidneys. Not enough fluid in the body (dehydration) also can harm the kidneys.
• Damage from some medicines, poisons, or infections. Most people don't have any kidney problems from taking medicines. But people who have serious, long-term health problems are more likely than other people to have a kidney problem from medicines. Examples of medicines that can sometimes harm the kidneys include:
  • Antibiotics, such as gentamicin and streptomycin.
  • Pain medicines, such as naproxen and ibuprofen.
  • Some blood pressure medicines, such as ACE inhibitors.
  • The dyes used in some X-ray tests.
• A sudden blockage that stops urine from flowing out of the kidneys. Kidney stones, a tumor, an injury, or an enlarged prostate gland can cause a blockage.

You have a greater chance of getting acute kidney injury if:

• You are an older adult.
• You have a long-term health problem such as kidney or liver disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, or obesity.
• You are already very ill and are in the hospital or intensive care (ICU).Heart or belly surgery or a bone marrow transplant can make you more likely to have kidney problems.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of acute kidney injury may include:

• Little or no urine when you try to urinate.
• Swelling, especially in your legs and feet.
• Not feeling like eating.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Feeling confused, anxious and restless, or sleepy.
• Pain in the back just below the rib cage. This is called flank pain.

Some people may not have any symptoms. And for people who are already quite ill, the problem that's causing the kidney injury may be causing other symptoms.

How is acute kidney injury diagnosed?

Acute kidney injury is most often diagnosed during a hospital stay for another cause. If you are already in the hospital, tests done for other problems may find your kidney problem.

If you're not in the hospital but have symptoms of kidney injury, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, what medicines you take, and what tests you have had. Your symptoms can help point to the cause of your kidney problem.

Blood and urine tests can check how well your kidneys are working. A chemistry screen can show if you have normal levels of sodium (salt), potassium, and calcium. You may also have an ultrasound. This imaging test lets your doctor see a picture of your kidneys.

How is it treated?

Your doctor or a kidney specialist (nephrologist) will try to treat the problem that is causing your kidney injury. Treatment can vary widely, depending on the cause. For example, your doctor may need to restore blood flow to the kidneys, stop any medicines that may be causing the problem, or remove or bypass a blockage in the urinary tract.

At the same time, the doctor will try to:

• Stop wastes from building up in your body. You may have dialysis. This treatment uses a machine to do the work of your kidneys until they recover. It will help you feel better.
• Prevent other problems. You may take antibiotics to prevent or treat infections. You also may take other medicines to get rid of extra fluid and keep your body's minerals in balance.

You can help yourself heal by taking your medicines as your doctor tells you to. You also may need to follow a special diet to keep your kidneys from working too hard. You may need to limit sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. A dietitian can help you plan meals.

Does acute kidney injury cause lasting problems?

About half the time, doctors can fix the problems that cause kidney injury. The treatment takes a few days or weeks. These people's kidneys will work well enough for them to live normal lives.

But other people may have permanent kidney damage that leads to chronic kidney disease. A small number of them will need to have regular dialysis or a kidney transplant. Older people and those who are very sick from other health problems may not get better. People who die usually do so because of the health problem that caused their kidneys to fail.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/

RENAL FAILURE - Acute Renal Failure

Acute Renal Failure

Source: WebMD

Is this topic for you?

This topic provides information about sudden kidney failure. If you are looking for information about long-term kidney disease, see the topic Chronic Kidney Disease.

What is acute renal failure?

Acute renal failure (also called acute kidney injury) means that your kidneys have suddenly stopped working. Your kidneys remove waste products and help balance water and salt and other minerals (electrolytes) in your blood. When your kidneys stop working, waste products, fluids, and electrolytes build up in your body. This can cause problems that can be deadly.

What causes acute renal failure?

Acute renal failure has three main causes:

A sudden, serious drop in blood flow to the kidneys. Heavy blood loss, an
injury, or a bad infection called sepsis can reduce blood flow to the kidneys.
Not enough fluid in the body (dehydration) also can harm the kidneys.

Damage from some medicines, poisons, or infections. Most people don't
have any kidney problems from taking medicines. But people who have
serious, long-term health problems are more likely than other people to have a kidney problem from medicines. Examples of medicines that can sometimes harm the kidneys include:

●  Antibiotics, such as gentamicin and streptomycin.

●  Pain medicines, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

●  Some blood pressure medicines, such as ACE inhibitors.

●  The dyes used in some X-ray tests.

A sudden blockage that stops urine from flowing out of the kidneys.  Kidney stones, a tumor, an injury, or an enlarged prostate gland can cause a blockage.

You have a greater chance of getting acute renal failure if:

●  You are an older adult.
●  You have a long-term health problem such as kidney or liver disease,   
     diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, or obesity.
●  You are already very ill and are in the hospital or intensive care (ICU). 
     Heart or belly surgery or a bone marrow transplant can make you more
     likely to have kidney failure.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of acute renal failure may include:

●  Little or no urine when you urinate.
●  Swelling, especially in your legs and feet.
●  Not feeling like eating.
●  Nausea and vomiting.
●  Feeling confused, anxious and restless, or sleepy.
●  Pain in the back just below the rib cage. This is called flank pain.

Some people may not have any symptoms. And for people who are already quite ill, the problem that's causing the kidney failure may be causing other symptoms.

How is acute renal failure diagnosed?

Acute renal failure is most often diagnosed during a hospital stay for another cause. If you are already in the hospital, tests done for other problems may find your kidney failure.

If you're not in the hospital but have symptoms of kidney failure, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, what medicines you take, and what tests you have had. Your symptoms can help point to the cause of your kidney problem.

Blood and urine tests can check how well your kidneys are working. A chemistry screen can show if you have normal levels of sodium (salt), potassium, and calcium. You may also have an ultrasound. This imaging test lets your doctor see a picture of your kidneys.

How is it treated?

Your doctor or a kidney specialist (nephrologist) will try to treat the problem that is causing your kidneys to fail. Treatment can vary widely, depending on the cause. For example, your doctor may need to restore blood flow to the kidneys, stop any medicines that may be causing the problem, or remove or bypass a blockage in the urinary tract.

At the same time, the doctor will try to:

●  Stop wastes from building up in your body. You may have dialysis. This
     treatment uses a machine to do the work of your kidneys until they recover.
     It will help you feel better.

●  Prevent other problems. You may take antibiotics to prevent or treat
     infections. You also may take other medicines to get rid of extra fluid and
     keep your body’s minerals in balance.

You can help yourself heal by taking your medicines as your doctor tells you to. You also may need to follow a special diet to keep your kidneys from working too hard. You may need to limit sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. A dietitian can help you plan meals.

Does acute renal failure cause lasting problems?

About half the time, doctors can fix the problems that cause kidney failure, and the treatment takes a few days or weeks. These people’s kidneys will work well enough for them to live normal lives.

But other people may have permanent kidney damage that leads to chronic kidney disease. A small number of them will need to have regular dialysis or a kidney transplant. Older people and those who are very sick from other health problems may not get better. People who die usually do so because of the health problem that caused their kidneys to fail.