You open a blood report and see an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) lower than you expected. Is 75 worrying? What about 58 or 42? The most useful answer depends on where the number started, how quickly it changed, whether it stays low, and what your urine test shows. An eGFR result is important, but … Read more
You have pain near your back, a change in urination, or an abnormal kidney test. Is it a kidney infection, or does it mean you have kidney disease? The terms sound similar but describe different problems. A kidney infection usually develops over a shorter period and needs timely medical treatment. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) generally … Read more
A blood report marks your creatinine as high, and suddenly you are searching for symptoms and causes. Should you be worried if you feel fine? Could something you ate explain it? Is this a sign of kidney failure? The answer depends on how high the result is for you, whether it has changed, and what … Read more
Your report says eGFR 50, and you may be wondering whether that means your kidneys are failing. The number deserves a conversation with a healthcare professional, but it does not mean dialysis is around the corner. Its meaning depends on whether it is a new result or has persisted, what your urine albumin test shows, … Read more
If you have diabetes, a clinician may ask for a urine test even when you feel well and your urine looks normal. The test checks for albumin, a protein that usually remains in your blood. When more albumin than expected appears in urine, it can be an early sign that diabetes is affecting your kidneys. … Read more
Your latest blood test shows higher creatinine than your last one. Then you remember that you had a hard workout, a long run, or an unusually active day before the test. Could exercise explain the change? It might contribute to a creatinine result in some circumstances, but it should not be assumed to explain every … Read more
A high creatinine result can make you want to act immediately. Search results may suggest a special fruit, more water, a detox tea, or a strict diet that promises to bring the number down. Before trying any of them, ask a more useful question: why is your creatinine high? Creatinine is a measurement used to … Read more
A blood test says your eGFR is low. Perhaps last year it was higher, or perhaps this is the first time you have seen the number at all. It is easy to search for a food, supplement, or exercise that will raise it immediately. First, though, you need to know why the result is low … Read more
You wake up with an ache in your back or side. It feels close to where you imagine your kidneys are, and you wonder whether something happened overnight. It is a reasonable concern, especially if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or have had a kidney stone before. But the time of day and the … Read more
Being told you have “stage 3 kidney disease” can make the future feel decided before you have had a chance to ask questions. You may search for a diet or natural remedy that will move you back to stage 2. There is no food, drink or supplement proven to reverse established CKD scarring. Yet a … Read more