When the body is functioning properly, it works with a system of trade offs. Organs like the kidneys are responsible for filtering out many of the waste products created as the body makes use of different proteins and substances. The amount of these waste products can tell a lot about a body and how well it is functioning. Creatinine is one of these waste products. This is specifically a waste product that’s created by the muscles which is then to be filtered out by the kidneys.
It should be noted that creatinine levels vary depending on a large number of different factors. People of different ethnicities, ages, genders and body sizes will have different levels of creatinine that is considered “normal”. However, the levels of creatinine in the bloodstream can provide one important aspect to study in the measurement of kidney health.
As mentioned earlier, creatinine is a byproduct of the body. Muscles take advantage of proteins that have been consumed or formed in the body. Creatinine is one of these byproducts after the muscles have completed their actions. Specifically it’s a byproduct of the muscle contracting. It’s naturally produced.
While there’s always some levels of creatinine in the body, it’s the amount that matters.If there’s very large amounts in the bloodstream, then it suggests that the kidneys aren’t doing a proper job of removing it from the body. There can be several reasons for this, but suggests there’s an issue. It’s one reason that a creatinine test is a regular lab test and is usually taken in conjunction with several other factors.
First off, it should be noted that there are two types of tests that can be taken to measure creatinine levels. The first is a blood test. The other is a timed urine test. The blood test for creatinine is very common and is part of regular lab work. The urine test is what’s known as a timed or cumulative test. In this case, all urine that’s produced over a day will be collected together. This will show the amount of creatinine that is escaping the body via this method. There is also an ACR urine test in which a small amount of urine can be found and is measured against other aspects of the urine. Typically, testing will start with a blood test and if levels are elevated, may choose to confirm it with another round of testing or a urine testing as well.
The actual testing process for creatinine is pretty simple and matches that of many other tests. For the blood tests, needles will be used to draw blood from the arm, often allowing for multiple tests to be completed at the same time. Most people will be able to resume their daily life right after. The urine test procedure is a bit more difficult. The timed test will require the collection of all urine over 24 hours. This can be a bit trickier for some people who may not be as used to collecting their urine repeatedly throughout the day.
The results are going to be measured in milligrams per deciliter. Normally this number ranges somewhere from 0.84 to 1.21. What is “normal” for a person will vary as mentioned earlier in this article. High levels in the blood suggest kidney problems. Since kidney disease is permanent, it’s crucial to try to determine if something is wrong early.
