If your blood test shows an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), it is natural to compare it with a “normal for my age” chart. Kidney filtering tends to decline with age, but an age average cannot tell you by itself whether your kidneys are healthy. Your healthcare professional also considers previous eGFR results, a urine … Read more
Diabetes can affect the kidneys gradually, often before you notice any symptoms. High blood sugar can damage the kidneys’ filtering structures over time, and high blood pressure can add to that damage. The encouraging part is that you can check for changes and take steps to lower your risk. Protecting your kidneys involves two kinds … Read more
If a blood test shows high urea, skipping meals may seem like a quick way to bring the number down. Eating less protein for a short time could affect the amount of urea your body produces. But fasting may also leave you dehydrated, which can raise a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) result. A lower number … Read more
If you have been told you have “stage 2,” “stage 3,” or “stage 4” kidney disease, you may wonder whether treatment can move you back to an earlier stage. The answer depends on the cause, how long the abnormal results have persisted, and whether a new, treatable problem is also present. An eGFR result can … Read more
Kidney disease means a condition is affecting how your kidneys work or their structure. Your kidneys filter waste and extra fluid from blood, help regulate minerals and blood pressure, and perform other jobs your body needs. The term covers more than one condition. A problem may develop suddenly, as in acute kidney injury (AKI), or … Read more
Early chronic kidney disease (CKD) often has no noticeable symptoms. You may feel well and urinate normally while a blood or urine test shows a problem. That is why waiting for pain or another obvious sign is an unreliable way to check your kidneys. The ten findings below include test results and physical changes worth … Read more
A low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) can be frightening, especially when you have never seen a low result before. The answer to “Can it be reversed?” depends on why it is low and how long the problem has been present. An eGFR that falls during an acute illness may improve when the cause is … 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
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
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