Creatinine Blood Test For Checking Kidney Functionality

Creatinine is a kind of chemical waste material produced by the body’s muscle function which is typically exuded from the body through the kidneys as a urine content. Being a muscle product, it means that the more muscle a person has, the more will be the creatinine production. The level of creatinine reflects both, the amount of muscle an individual has and the functionality of the kidneys.

A deviation in the level of creatinine in the blood is a sheer indication of dysfunctionality of the kidneys. For this, the practitioners of medical science introduced Creatinine Blood Test that effectively helps them evaluate the amount of creatinine present in the body and check for any problems with the kidneys.

Why is a Creatinine Blood Test Done?

As stated above, a Creatinine Blood Test may be ordered to a person in order to look for signs of any kind of infection or disease in the kidneys. Typical symptoms include:-

·         loss of appetite

·         swelling in the wrists, face, ankles, or abdomen

·         fatigue

·         high blood pressure

·         trouble sleeping

·         pain in the lower back near the kidneys

·         change in urine frequency and output

·         nausea and vomiting

A kidney problem can be linked to many condition and diseases. These include:-

·         prostate disease

·         significant decrease in the flow of blood in the kidneys which may be caused due to a congestive heart failure, dehydration or diabetes

·         blockage(s) in the urinary tract due to kidney stones

·         glomerulonephritis – it’s linked with inflammation of the glomeruli due to significant damage

·         pyelonephritis – It’s a kind of kidney bacterial infection

·         the total failure of a kidney as a result of drug abuse

What do the Test Results indicate?

The levels of creatinine in the body are typically measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) and vary from one person to another depending upon their age and gender.

However, in general, normal levels of creatinine range from 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL in men and 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL in women. Any deviation from these defined range indicate dysfunctionality of the kidneys. Addition, creatinine levels may be higher than normal due to a number of reasons:-

·         A high-protein diet,

·         Dehydration,

·         Kidney damage or infection

·         A blocked urinary track

·         Reduced blood flow, etc.

Low level of creatinine are uncommon, but they do not pose any concern. They can associated with conditions that result in decreased mass of muscle in the body.

Further, it’s vital to note that normal and abnormal levels can vary from one lab to another as different labs use different techniques to test and draw results.