Kidney Health Nutrition and Understanding Your Lab Values Through Its Stages

After being diagnosed with kidney disease of any kind, many people will be faced with a lifetime of doctor visits, specialists, lab tests, dietary and fluid restrictions and changes and the looming possibility of dialysis or the need for a kidney transplant if the disease continues to progress.

Medications and diet will be important to keep this from happening, which makes it even more important for the patient to pay careful attention to what is said by the nutritionist during each stage of kidney disease. While some will be lucky enough to slow or stop the progression of the various forms of kidney disease, it is very important to note that even if you do everything the way that you are supposed to, the disease may still move forward and become more serious.

One of the things that you will have to deal with is the constant need for many lab tests, which starts with a blood draw or a urine sample. In those who have serious kidney disease, a port may be placed so that the doctor can have constant access without having to puncture a vein each time. The port can also be used to give medications and can be more convenient, but can also be problematic because it needs specific care either by the patient, the patient's family or, in some cases, a visiting nurse or care provider.

Some of the lab tests that you will have to have during treatment for kidney disease include:

Serum creatinine: muscle activity in the body creates creatinine, a waste product that is normally removed by the action of the kidneys. This tends to be one of the first waste products that start backing up in the blood vessels, which marks the start of kidney trouble.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): this rate determines how well the kidneys are functioning. A GFR that is below 30 indicates a problem and will warrant the need for a nephrologist (a kidney specialist). Any GFR below 15 indicates that the problem is serious and there will be the need for dialysis, and it may indicate the impending need for a kidney transplant.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): when the body breaks down proteins, not only from the foods that you eat but from normal metabolism as well, urea nitrogen is formed. This normal waste product is usually filtered from the blood by the kidneys and can rise if the kidneys are failing or if the patient is eating more protein than the body can effectively handle. The BUN can drop if the patient is eating too little protein as well.

Urine Protein: protein is a vital macronutrient, used by the body for a very wide range of systems and functions. Your body also creates some forms of protein from other forms to be used for other reasons. The kidneys filter protein and protein byproducts from the bloodstream when they are working correctly; however, when they are not, protein will accumulate in the urine. Although there are other instances when protein can be detected in the urine, persistent, detectable protein levels in the urine is an early sign of impending kidney disease or damage.

Microalbuminuria: in those who are at higher risk for kidney disease, including those who have other conditions like high blood pressure or a very serious family history of kidney disease, this test will be used to detect even very small amounts of protein in the urine before the amount gets high enough to be detected by less sensitive tests.

Ratio of Protein to Creatinine: for some patients, the doctor will ask for a 24 hour sample of collected urine, which will show him how much protein is found in the urine each day. This test can be complicated because it relies on the patient collecting all urine for a full 24 hours, storing the container in their refrigerator and then bringing it to the lab the following day for testing. Instead, the doctor may choose to use the protein to creatinine ratio, which will estimate the amount of protein that is excreted in the urine instead.

Serum albumin: the body uses protein that it gets from food to create other types of protein, amino acids, hormones and enzymes. Albumin is one of these body proteins. Low levels of this in the blood can be caused by not receiving the adequate amount of protein in the diet or enough calories. It is also important to note that the body cannot store protein and needs new sources of it every day. Even a small amount of blood albumin can cause serious health problems, including the inability to fight off infections.

Normalized protein nitrogen appearance or nPna: this test is often used by the doctor to tell if you are eating enough protein or, in some cases, too much. The testing is done by collecting urine and blood samples, and you may be asked to keep a food diary as well.

Subjective Global Assessment (SGA): this testing may be asked for by the nutritionist rather than the kidney specialist and is used to check for symptoms of nutritional problems. The testing is done by asking questions about the daily diet, completing a weight check and a check of the fat and muscle amounts in the face, arms, hands, shoulders and legs.

Hemoglobin: the blood is made of several parts, including the hemoglobin, which is the part of the red blood cells that work to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. A low level of hemoglobin indicates anemia. Treatment for anemia includes iron and a specific hormone.

Hematocrit: this is the measure of how many red blood cells your body is actually making. A low value for this test also indicates anemia.

TSAT and Serum Ferritin: these tests both measure iron in the body.

PTH or Parathyroid Hormone: an imbalance of calcium and phosphorous in the body can result in high levels of PTH and can cause bone disease.

Calcium: because calcium is vital to healthy bones and may be leached out during some forms of kidney disease, the level will be checked.

Phosphorous: a high level of this mineral can lead to weak bones. The doctor and nutritionist may put you on a phosphorous-restricting diet and may also give you a medication that will bind the remaining phosphorous in foods.

Potassium: this mineral is needed by the body so that the heart and other muscles work properly. The level of potassium has to be balanced or it will weaken muscles and can lead to heart irregularities.

Blood and Urine Tests, Good Nutrition and Protein Supplements: A Case Study

Dave has kidney disease. At this point, he does not need to have dialysis; however, he does come to the lab very frequently to have blood work and to give a urine sample. He has had to do the 24 hour urine collection a time or two and is glad that the doctor has switched to using the protein to creatinine ratio instead. His overall diet was fairly healthy, but the nutritionist suggested that he change his fat intake to healthier Omega-3 fatty acids over the other, less healthy fats that he was eating and to increase the amount of protein and calcium in his diet. He will include a protein supplement because he has a lower appetite lately.

After trying protein shakes, Dave started using a new supplement. Because it is so small it can be consumed in a few seconds. While it only has 100 calories per serving, it gives Dave a high amount of digestible protein. He aims for two servings each day and then tries to increase his dietary protein from healthy plant sources for the rest of the day. On days when he simply cannot eat healthfully, he ups his intake to maintain his levels.

Nutrition and Kidney Health Understanding Your Lab Values ​​through stages

After the diagnosis of kidney diseases of any kind, many individuals face a lifetime of doctor visits, specialists, laboratory tests, dietary restrictions and fluid changes and the imminent possibility of the need for dialysis or transplant kidney, where the disease is progressing.

Medications and diet will be important to prevent this from happening, which makes it even more important for the patient to pay attention to what was said by the dietitian at eachstage renal disease. While some are fortunate enough to slow or stop the progression of various forms of kidney disease, it is important to note that even if you do everything as it should, the disease may continue and be even more severe.

One of the things you will face is the constant need for many tests, which begins with a sample of blood or urine. In people with severe kidney disease, a door can be positioned so Your doctor may have constant access without having to prick a vein each time. The port can also be used to administer medication and may be more convenient, but can also be problematic because it requires special care of both the patient and the patient's family or, in some cases, a home nurse or support.

Some of the laboratory tests that will have on the course of treatment for kidney disease are:

Serum creatinine: muscle activity of the body creates> Creatinine, a waste product normally removed by the action of the kidneys. This tends to be one of the waste products before proceeding with the backup of blood vessels, which marks the start of kidney problems.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): This rate determines how well the kidneys. A GFR below 30 indicates a problem and justify the need for a nephrologist (a kidney). Any glomerular filtration rate below 15 indicates that the problem is serious and thereis the need for dialysis, and may indicate the urgent need for a kidney transplant.

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): when the body breaks down proteins, not just the food we eat, but a normal metabolism and, urea is formed. standard deviation of this product is usually filtered from the blood by the kidneys and may increase if the kidneys fail, or if the patient is to eat more protein than the body can handle. The BUN may fall if thepatient is eating too little protein, too.

Urine Protein: Protein is an essential macronutrient, which is used by the body to a wide range of systems and functions. Your body also creates some forms of the proteins of other forms to be used for other reasons. The kidneys filter and protein-protein in the blood when functioning properly, but when they are, they accumulate proteins in the urine. Although there are other cases in which the protein can be detected in urine, persistent levels of detectable protein in the urine is an early sign of kidney disease or imminent harm.

Microalbuminuria: those who are at increased risk of kidney disease, including those with other conditions like high blood pressure or family history of very severe renal disease, this test is used to detect even very small amounts of protein in the urine before the amount is high enough to be detected by the test less sensitive.

Proportion of protein> Creatinine: For some patients, the doctor will ask a sample of 24 hour urine, which will show the amount of protein in the urine every day. This test can be tricky because it relies on the collection of patients of all urine for 24 hours, the storage container in the refrigerator and then taken to the laboratory the next day for testing. Instead, the doctor may choose to use the protein / creatinine ratio, which estimates the amount of proteinwhich is excreted in the urine instead.

serum albumin: the body uses proteins from food to create other types of proteins, amino acids, hormones and enzymes. Albumin is one of these proteins in the body. Low levels of this blood can be caused by not getting the right amount of protein in the diet or enough calories. It is also important to note that the body can not store protein, and the need for new sources every day. Even a small amount of albumin in the blood can cause serioushealth problems, including the inability to fight infection.

NAP protein nitrogen appearance: This test is often used by the doctor to see if you are eating enough protein or, in some cases, too. This test is performed by collecting urine samples and blood, and you may be asked to keep a food journal.

Subjective Global Assessment (SGA): This test can be requested by the nutritionist instead of the kidneys and is used to controlsymptoms of nutritional problems. The test is done by asking questions about diet, conducting weight control and verification of the amounts of fat and muscles in the face, arms, hands, shoulders and legs.

Hemoglobin, the blood is composed of many parts, such as hemoglobin, the red blood cells that work to carry oxygen from the lungs to the body. A low hemoglobin indicates anemia. Treatment for anemia and iron includes a specifichormone.

Hematocrit: This is the measure of the amount of red blood cells of your body is doing. A low value of this test also indicates anemia.

TSAT and serum ferritin: these tests is to measure iron in the body.

PTH parathyroid hormone: an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus in the body can cause high levels of PTH and may cause bone disease.

Football because football is crucial for bone health and may be leached during some forms of kidney disease,level will be reviewed.

Phosphorus: a high level of this mineral can lead to weak bones. The doctor and dietitian can put on a diet to limit phosphorus, and can even be given a medicine that will join the rest of phosphorus in food.

Potassium: This mineral is necessary for the body so that the heart and other muscles are working properly. The potassium level should be balanced, otherwise the muscles weaken and can lead to heart irregularities.

Blood and urine, BuenaFood supplements and proteins: a case study

Dave has a kidney disease. At this point, do not need dialysis, however, comes very often in laboratory blood tests and give a urine sample. I had to do urine collection 24 hours once or twice, and he is glad that the doctor has switched to using the protein / creatinine ratio in place. His diet was very healthy, but the nutritionist suggested change their consumption of healthy fatsOmega-3 fatty acids on the other, unless he was eating healthy fats and to increase the amount of protein and calcium in your diet. It includes a protein supplement because it has a lower appetite lately.

After searching the protein shakes, Dave began using a new supplement. Why is so small it can be consumed in seconds. Although it has only 100 calories per serving, Dave gives a high amount of digestible protein. He pointed to two servings a day and then triesincrease in vegetable protein in a healthy diet for the rest of the day. On days when you just can not eat healthy, to maintain their employment levels.