High creatinine: what is creatinine, causes and how to lower it

High creatinine: what is creatinine, causes and how to lower it

High creatinine is a parameter of blood tests that can indicate the existence of a kidney problem. Discover what it is and how to download it.

Creatinine is a basic parameter that is usually studied in the routine blood test and serves to know the proper functioning of the kidneys, the main purification organs of our body.

When a high blood creatinine is diagnosed it means that, with a more or less greater probability, our kidneys do not work correctly, precisely because they do not clean it correctly, causing high levels of creatinine in our blood.

In previous occasions, we have explained to you, from a series of basic tips and tricks, not only how to lower high triglycerides, but how to lower high sugar.

Since then, we have received some comments from many of our readers who ask us about health advice to take into account to know how to lower creatinine (in this sense, serum creatinine).

What is creatinine and what are the causes of having high creatinine?
Creatinine consists of a residue of both mass and muscle activity. It is an organic compound resulting from the degradation of creatine, a component of the muscles, which can, in turn, be transformed into ATP, becoming a source of high energy for the cells.

That is, it consists of a waste product of the normal metabolism of the muscles that our body usually produces at a constant rate, although it depends on the mass of the muscles.

Its production depends directly on the modification of muscle mass, hence many doctors consider that, in reality, their levels tend to very little, so the most common without any pathology is that their values remain stable. Therefore, we must always bear in mind that the concentration of creatinine in the blood depends not only on renal function but also on the muscle mass of the person.

Hence, from a medical point of view, it is best to analyze and know the trend of creatinine levels over a certain period of time that only serve a single value, given that a level that increases with the passing of months or years of creatinine may be indicative of kidney damage, in the same way, that a level that falls is an indication of an improvement in the function of the same.

As you can imagine, the elevation of creatinine usually occurs when there is a problem in the kidneys; that is, when there is some type of condition that includes damage to the kidney, kidney infection, reduced blood flow to this organ, or the presence of kidney failure.

In fact, it can also be increased by disorders of the urinary tract, especially when there is an obstruction of the same, something that can occur when you have bladder stones.

Not only could we have high creatinine for some kidney problem
Although you may not believe it, although it is true that an elevation of creatinine is always suspected when there is a problem, disease or kidney disease, the truth is that it is not the only cause.

Moreover, certain muscular problems can cause an increase in blood creatinine levels, usually as a result of the breakdown of muscle fibers, either by an injury or by another condition that causes damage to the muscles.

Symptoms of high creatinine
When we have raised the level of creatinine in the blood it means that our kidneys are probably not working correctly, or that there is some kind of disorder, condition or pathology that is causing a kidney problem. As a result, some symptoms may arise, such as those discussed below:

Changes in urine: When the elevation of creatinine occurs as a result of severe kidney damage is common in the urine appears foam, especially on its surface. It is also possible that the urine turns red or rose, and that urination is more frequent.
Changes in the skin: An annoying itching may arise in the skin, in addition to a swelling of the hands and feet.
Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite: In addition, fatigue and headache may occur.
Weightloss.
Why is the creatinine test performed?
Since the kidneys are responsible for filtering the creatinine by excreting it through the urine, its measurement becomes definitive in the simplest way to monitor if the kidneys are performing their function correctly.

That is, we have a simple test that becomes the most common indicator that informs the specialist about the kidney function of the person. Hence, this value is always analyzed and studied in a routine blood analysis, both in its serum form and in urine.

The separation of creatinine can be calculated accurately using the concentration of creatinine in serum or through a collection of urine less than 24 hours and analyzing variables such as sex, age, weight and race of a person.

Blood creatinine levels
First of all, we must bear in mind that creatinine values tend to vary slightly between different laboratories since some laboratories usually analyze different samples or use different measurements. However, here are the average normal values:

Normal values in adult men: between 0.7 and 1.3 mg/dl
Normal values in adult women: between 0.5 to 1.2 mg / dl
Normal values in children: between 0.2 to 1 mg / dl
In men, a high level of elevated creatinine is considered to be higher than 1.3 mg/dl, while in women it is higher than 1.2 mg/dl. Values above 4 mg/dl are considered as an important renal failure.

How to lower the creatinine?
While it is true that creatinine is the final product of metabolism, there are some basic recommendations that allow you to take care of the kidneys, and therefore lower the high creatinine in the blood.

It is useful to follow the following basic health tips:

Drink every day between 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day (about 8 glasses of water). You can combine with infusions and herbal teas such as those indicated below.
If you have high blood pressure levels you should control your hypertension, since it is one of the biggest enemies for the health of your kidneys.
Eliminate food with acid waste: lentils, nuts, coffee, alcohol, plums and blueberries.
Eliminates foods rich in purines: sausages, legumes, viscera, sardines, herring, scallops and anchovies.
Eliminates foods high in potassium: celery, spinach, chicory, cabbage, potato, orange and sweet potato.
Choose to consume fruits, vegetables, and fresh vegetables.
Eat healthy foods, such as white meats (chicken, turkey, and rabbit), and white fish.
Opt for diuretic foods: asparagus, pineapple, artichokes, watercress, broccoli or onion.
Practice regular physical exercise but do not over-exert yourself. Did you know that too much physical effort can raise blood creatinine levels?