Maintaining your kidney health is crucial for your overall well-being. The kidneys are responsible for purifying your blood, removing toxins, keeping the electrolyte balance in check, and regulating the blood pressure.
Monitoring the health of your kidneys is important as their failure could lead to several life-threatening conditions.
This is why if your doctor suspects any kidney-related disorders, they might order some lab tests to assess your kidney function.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the kidney function tests you need to know.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
BUN measures the amount of nitrogen in your blood that comes from urea, which is a byproduct of protein metabolism.
A BUN test can help evaluate your kidney function as your kidneys are responsible for eliminating the excess nitrogen from your body. High BUN levels may indicate that your kidneys aren’t functioning as they should be.
Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product formed by the breakdown of creatine, a substance found in muscles.
As your kidneys play a crucial role in eliminating creatinine from your body, a creatinine test can help assess your kidney function.
High levels of creatinine in the blood may indicate that your kidneys aren’t functioning properly.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
GFR is a measure of how well your kidneys are filtering waste products from your blood.
A GFR test can help assess the stage of kidney disease that you may have. The GFR is calculated based on your creatinine levels, age, sex, and race. A lower GFR number indicates lower kidney function.
Urine Tests
Urine tests can help detect any abnormal levels of the substances that normally get eliminated from your urine. For example, if there is a protein present in your urine, it could be a sign of kidney damage.
Glucose in the urine could be a sign of diabetes or kidney damage, while blood in the urine could indicate an infection or kidney stones.
Electrolyte Tests
Electrolytes are salts and minerals that help regulate the body’s fluid balance and control the acid-base balance of the blood.
Electrolyte tests can help assess if any imbalances in your body are affecting your kidney health. Some of the common electrolytes tested are sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
In a nutshell, by monitoring the health of your kidneys, you can take the necessary steps to maintain their function and avoid any kidney-related disorders.
It is important to remember that kidney function tests should always be interpreted in the context of your overall health and medical history, and only a medical professional can provide a proper diagnosis.
If you have any concerns about your kidney health, speak to your doctor and get your kidney function tested.
