Mary James If you have been told your blood potassium is high, choosing lower-potassium foods may be part of your treatment plan. The difficult part is that potassium is found in many nutritious foods, and online lists often make it seem as though every fruit and vegetable is forbidden. You can still have variety. The key is … Read more
Magnesium is an essential mineral. Your muscles, nerves, and heart need it, and your kidneys help regulate how much remains in your body. That connection has led to a common question: Could taking extra magnesium improve kidney function? There is no established evidence that taking magnesium supplements reverses chronic kidney disease (CKD) or reliably raises … Read more
Yes, blood creatinine can vary between tests. Your body produces creatinine through normal muscle activity, and your kidneys remove it. A change in either process—or in your circumstances around the test—can affect the number. A small difference does not automatically mean your kidneys have improved or worsened. But a sudden rise should not be dismissed … Read more
When you feel unwell with kidney disease, you want relief quickly. The safest first step is to work out which symptom you have and whether it needs urgent care. Swelling, itching, nausea, pain, and a sudden drop in urine output can have different causes and need different responses. There is no home remedy that gives … Read more
If a blood test shows that your kidneys are filtering less well, one of the first questions is whether the change happened recently or has been present for months. That distinction helps clinicians decide what may have caused it, how urgently to act, and what follow-up you need. A sudden decline is commonly called acute … Read more
If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), you may have been told to eat less salt—or handed a list of foods high in potassium. These are two different dietary changes. Many people with CKD benefit from reducing excess sodium. A low-potassium diet is usually considered in light of your blood potassium results, medicines, kidney function, … Read more
A creatinine result is one of the most common numbers on a kidney blood test. If yours has been flagged as high—or has changed since your last test—it is natural to worry. The number needs context: your previous results, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urine tests, health conditions, and symptoms all help explain what it … Read more
Yoga may be a comfortable way to add movement, improve flexibility, and make time to relax when you have chronic kidney disease (CKD). You can adapt many poses to a chair or practise them for just a few minutes. But it helps to be clear about what yoga cannot do. No pose has been shown … Read more
If your blood test shows a high urea result after you started eating more meat, eggs, or protein powder, it is reasonable to ask whether your diet played a part. Eating more protein can increase the amount of urea your body produces. But a high result can have other causes, including dehydration or reduced kidney … Read more
A pain in your back can be hard to identify. It might follow lifting or an awkward movement, but pain from a kidney stone or infection can also be felt in the back. Location, accompanying symptoms, and how the pain behaves provide clues. None can confirm the cause on their own. If you have fever, … Read more