Kidneys can last as long as you do, but you need insurance. This post is about kidney monitoring, preservation, and what you can do starting today.
This is a schematic representation of a healthy kidney. An important goal of Planned Longevity™ is keeping your kidneys working well and supporting your health. I have several things to discuss in this post, and I will keep things as simple as possible.
So let’s get started.
Four Kidney protectors to do right away.
Type II diabetes:
Type I and Type II diabetes are both destructive to kidneys.
Unfortunately, Type I is genetic, but Type II is most often due to lifestyle issues especially being overweight and having a poor diet. Type II diabetes begins with metabolic syndrome and, at this stage, is reversible. Here is my post on this.
Full-blown Type II diabetes is difficult to reverse but can be controlled. Here is an article from the Mayo Clinic on controlling Type II diabetes.
High Blood Pressure:
Diabetes and high blood pressure (HBP) account for 75% of kidney failure cases. Fortunately, HBP can be monitored and controlled. Here is my article on monitoring and controlling your blood pressure.
Unless it’s extreme, HBP has no symptoms. It can, however, be deadly. Please read my article, and if you have HBP, see your PHP and take action. Don’t ignore this. It won’t go away on its own.
Avoid dehydration:
It is easy to get dehydrated. There aren’t many prominent warning signs until it’s pretty severe. Almost all of us are dehydrated in the morning when we wake up. This is normal, so the first thing you should do in the morning is drink one ounce of warm water for every ten pounds of your body weight.
For example, I weigh 150 pounds, so I drink 15, or sometimes more, ounces of water before I do anything else after rising.
Additionally, as we get older, our thirst mechanisms can decline in their function, and we cannot depend on thirst as our guide. We should be drinking enough water to make us urinate 6 to 8 times a day.
And yes, chronic or severe dehydration can damage kidneys and encourage the formation of kidney stones.
Kidney Stones:
These are just what they sound like and are very painful. They can also damage your kidneys. There are three things you can do to prevent kidney stones: 1) drink lots of water to keep your kidneys flushed out. 2) avoid foods that encourage the formation of kidney stones. 3) do as I do and take 100 milligrams of magnesium citrate twice daily.
____________
(Note) Magnesium citrate is available over-the-counter and requires no prescription. Check with your healthcare provider before doing this if you feel that it is necessary. You might also consider Calcium Citrate.
____________
Test your urine at home:
Women should check their breasts for lumps when taking a shower, and men should examine their testicles for lumps, swelling, or pain. We check our skin for unusual growth. And we check our stools for blood (and get colonoscopies).
So why aren’t we checking our urine?
Maybe it’s because nobody tells us to or shows us how. There’s no public interest group singing jingles about UTIs or warning you there might be bilirubin in your pee. Maybe it’s because there’s no money in it.
It must be something like that because doing an in-home urinalysis is safe, easy, and costs less than fifty cents.
Yes, you read that right – urinalysis for less than fifty cents.
Alright, we all know that early detection is the best treatment for any disease, and nothing else comes close. So if you can make fourteen checks of your urine by peeing in a cup and dipping a strip of treated pads into it, why not do it?
In this post, I’ll show you how and suggest how often.
To get started, you will need the following tool:
On the left, you will see what is commonly called a “dipstick.” These tools are used widely in the medical arena for “dip testing.” Dipsticks are simply strips of inert plastic with chemically coated pads that change color when dipped into your urine. The standard strip has ten locations that allow you to perform ten different tests with a single dip.
The sticks I use come from life2o life2o.com and cost around 20 dollars per 100 sticks. I get mine from Amazon, but you can also find dipsticks at a typical drugstore.
Morning urine draw:
The night before this test, you should have a six-ounce plastic cup set out so you can pee in it. Most of us will have no problem peeing in the morning. You should also have two dipsticks laid out on a white towel, along with a timer. Have paper and pencil handy with numbers one through fourteen prewritten on the left side of the page.
This urine collection needs to be done when you first start peeing. Do not pee first, and then take your sample. You are doing a “first pee in the morning” test. Peeing first and then collecting your sample defeats the purpose of the morning draw.
You can finish your business when the collection cup is full and then dip one stick completely into your urine sample for two seconds. After this, lay the strip on the towel with the colored pads up.
On the side of the container with the strips (or on a chart inside), you will find color codes and times. Lay this next to your strip, and while watching your timer, note any color changes outside of the normal range. Write these down on the notepad as an X next to the specific test number.
Only “X” test numbers that are not normal.
You now have a summary of abnormal test results for your morning urine draw. Remember that this timed result goes from immediate to two minutes, so be ready with your timer and notepad. The second test strip is there in case you mess up the first test. So don’t throw your urine sample out until the first dipstick is processed and recorded.
OK, now you’re done with your results recorded.
Afternoon/evening urine draw:
The procedure here is a little different. You will have all your supplies laid out the same as the morning draw. You should, however, do the afternoon/evening draw after you have urinated several times (at least three) and generally at the same time each day.
For this draw, pee a little – a couple of seconds – before you pee in the cup. At this point, proceed as above and record your abnormals with an “X.” You now have a graphic illustration of your abnormal urine tests – morning and afternoon – readable at a glance.
The P-Triad:
You should do the morning/afternoon urine test three days in a row. To keep things simple, you should summarize the tests on a single sheet that shows all abnormal tests for two or more days.
So now you have a summary sheet showing all urine tests that showed abnormal two or more days in a three-day string of tests. You should have two columns, one for morning pee and the other for afternoon pee.
Note that these are not three-day averages. These are two or more occurrences in any specific test category. You can take this information with you when you meet with your PHP – they can review it and do further testing if needed.
Don’t try evaluating your urinalysis:
Keep it simple: you have a summary of tests based on color changes on a strip of plastic. This data is not diagnostic information. If anything, it’s preliminary to further testing that a professional must do before any conclusions get made.
At most, your summary sheet is a device that “might” indicate you have a problem and, in some cases, might justify seeing your PHP.
Urine tests tell us much about what’s happening in our bodies, but this requires professional interpretation. From a non-professional perspective (you and Me), urine tests are a yellow caution light warning us that we might have a problem.
When to see your PHP:
The reason we’re testing our urine is to catch minor problems before they get big. When you get high-positive results (darker or lighter colors), or any consistent positives, this is a time to see your PHP for a urinalysis and an in-office workup. Be cautious, don’t be sorry.
Some health conditions can be “silent” and have no symptoms. Testing is a means of staying ahead of the curve on this.
So how often should you do the P-triad?
Good question. Let’s talk about me and what I do. If I have any positives on my summary sheet, I do the P-triad again after five days. If I get the same results, I see my PHP. I found a urinary tract infection this way and also a gallstone.
Neither of these was symptomatic, but each got spotted using the P-triad.
Otherwise, I do the P-triad at the beginning of each month. It’s easy and inexpensive to do.
I want to emphasize once again; the P-triad test is a tool to smoke out issues if they’re hiding in your urine. If you ever have any concerns, by all means, see your PHP. Don’t self-diagnose, and don’t think whatever it is will just go away.
Already using dipsticks?
Some of you are already using dipsticks for various reasons. That’s fine, and nothing I said in this post should change what you’re doing. However, keep in mind that doing a P-triad workup will not harm you in any way, and it might give you information you’re not getting now.
It’s a good idea to discuss this with your PHP. You might be getting all this information already. And then again, you might not.
A deep dive:
There’s a lot more to say about urine testing. Tips about performing the test itself and seeing the colors you’ll be looking for are essential. You can also get information about each test and what it means.
Go here for in-depth information: Urine testing.
Kidney Blood Panel Numbers
Kidney numbers? Yes, you need to know these:
Kidney numbers tell you a lot about the health and functioning of your kidneys. Why is this important? Kidney disease (nephritis) is number 10 on the CDC’s Top Ten list of killers. Now there are a lot of kidney diseases and disorders – too many to go into here, so I’m just going to use the general abbreviation KD from here on.
Kidney numbers come from two sources, urine, and blood (serum). I discussed home urine testing earlier in this article.
As to blood testing, you will need a blood draw for a test called a CBC, a general overall blood test with a specific kidney number section. You can ask your PHP (doctor) for this test or order it here and do it yourself.
(Most of you can order the test and get the results sent to you, depending on the state or country where you reside.)
So, about the results:
Your blood test will return five kidney numbers:
Uric Acid
BUN
Creatinine
eGFR
BUN/Creatinine Ratio
Your blood analysis report will give you ranges for each parameter and highlight them if your blood level is too high or too low.
OK, let’s talk about each of these kidney numbers separately
Uric Acid:
This acid is a waste product from the breakdown of two purines, adenine and guanine. These two amino acids are parts of our DNA and RNA. During our metabolic processes, these molecules are broken down and restructured constantly – this metabolic action is where uric acid comes from.
Uric acid is dissolved in the bloodstream and is primarily excreted in our urine. Low levels of uric acid aren’t usually a big deal, but consistently high and unusually large levels are. These are caused by poor kidney function or any or all of the following factors:
- Diuretics.
- Excessive alcohol use.
- High consumption of fructose – too much soda-pop, for example.
- Inherited issues.
- Hypertension – high blood pressure
- Drugs that suppress the immune system.
Here is a more comprehensive list of possible causes of high uric acid levels.
At any rate, if your uric acid blood levels are high, check to see if it’s anything you’re doing, and if you can’t explain it on that level, discuss it with your PHP. This could be an early warning sign of kidney problems.
BUN – Blood Urea Nitrogen:
“The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test measures how much urea nitrogen is in your blood. It helps a healthcare provider determine if your kidneys are working as they should. BUN levels vary according to your age and sex. Abnormal levels may indicate a health condition, including kidney damage.”
Quoted from Cleveland Clinic post on BUN.
BUN levels vary by sex and age, but there is an acceptable range for each category. Urea nitrogen is a waste product of metabolism primarily excreted by our kidneys. Here are some contributing factors to high BUN levels:
- Very high-protein diets.
- Aging.
- Medications, ask your PHP if you are taking a med that causes this.
- Dehydration.
- Stress.
- Urinary system backup or blockage.
- Undiagnosed heart attack
- Gastrointestinal bleeding.
Some of these causes are very serious in and of themselves. Here is more information on BUN.
If you discover that your BUN level is exceptionally high, discuss it with your PHP. This finding can mean many things, most of them not good. Be safe, don’t be sorry.
Creatinine – NOT Creatine. The latter is a supplement, and the two are often confused:
This kidney number, Creatinine, is also a waste product of metabolism, excreted primarily in the urine. So Creatinine is a little crazy because it varies so much. Age, sex, race, and activity levels can affect these numbers, which go up and down easily.
For example, if you ate something before your blood draws, your creatinine levels will be high – this is why you’re supposed to be fasting when your blood is drawn.
Creatinine is important because it is a factor in the next parameter we will discuss. It is not a blood-measured parameter but, instead, is a calculated parameter using creatinine as a number in the calculation.
If you want to know more about creatinine, here’s a very readable link.
eGFR Glomerular Filtration Rate.
The ‘e’ is for estimated, meaning this measurement is calculated from other measurements. The GFR is a number scale demonstrating how well your kidneys are working. In simple terms, for this number, high is great, and low is awful – really low is kidney failure.
[NOTE: GFR can be directly measured, which is more accurate than eGFR. This is usually not done unless your PHP suspects a serious kidney problem.]
National Kidney Foundation
The above graphic is the GFR speedometer. On your lab report, you will get an estimated number. For your eGFR – there will be two numbers, one for the general audience and one for Blacks (African Americans in the US). Blacks normally have higher eGFR numbers.
Your eGFR alone is not diagnostic, but it is definitely a number for further investigation if it is in the “Kidney Disease” range – especially in the lower portion. This applies to all races.
If this number is low, discuss it with your PHP, don’t put this off. It’s very important to intercept kidney problems as early as possible. Your PHP will likely do an actual measure of your GFR, which is much more reliable than the estimated version. If this test verifies your low GFR, you’ll likely get referred to a Nephrologist. One who specializes in Kidney disorders.
GFR is a very important number. Here’s a very readable link to find out more.
BUN/Creatinine Ratio:
This kidney number is another calculation. Its purpose is a little more complex than eGFR. Here’s a quote from the Cleveland Clinic:
“Clinical Significance: The BUN/Creatinine ratio is useful in the differential diagnosis of acute or chronic renal disease. Reduced renal perfusion, e.g. congestive heart failure or recent onset of urinary tract obstruction, will result in an increase in BUN/Creatinine ratio. Increased urea formation also results in an increase in the ratio, e.g. gastrointestinal bleeding, trauma, etc. When there is decreased formation of urea, as seen in liver disease, there is a decrease in the BUN/Creatinine ratio. In most cases of chronic renal disease, the ratio remains relatively normal.”
OK, in this link, there is a list of ratio values by age and sex. This is a mostly diagnostic test, and being too high or too low is best left to your PHP’s judgment. Your job is to get your numbers and meet with your PHP if the ratio is on either side of the normal range.
If you want to know more about this ratio, here’s an easy-to-read article that is complete and informative.
So now, what to do with Kidney Numbers:
Here’s what I do:
First, I don’t wait for symptoms to develop; it might be too late when symptoms reveal themselves. I stay ahead of KD.
I test my blood every six months using the same test I linked above. Chronic kidney diseases tend to develop over a period of time. Six-month testing intervals give me a good chance of catching them in their early stages.
Caught early, most of these diseases are manageable.
Play it Safe:
Don’t be your own doctor. Out-of-whack kidney numbers can be an early sign that you have a problem. These numbers are variable and can be out of the acceptable range on the day of your blood draw and normal later on – this happens.
But, as I always say, be safe, and don’t be sorry. If your blood test returns out-of-range kidney numbers, discuss these with your PHP. Let them decide what to do – don’t assume these will self-correct. They might improve, and then again, they might get worse.
You don’t want worse.
OMY1
Note: this article will appear in my “Technology Toolbox” inside my Planned Longevity™ Master Toolbox.
If you liked this article, please recommend it to a friend. Assure your friend most of my articles are free, and visitors don’t need to give me any information unless they want notifications when I post new newsletters.
To return to the HOME page now, click “PLANNED LONGEVITY™” on your top left and look for my Avitar – this marker signals you’re on the home page.
But before you go:
Many of my Newsletters are Free, and You Don’t Want to Miss One…
Subscribing ensures you’ll get an email notification when I post new or upgraded newsletters.
Just leave your email, and I’ll take care of the rest:
(You can also use the signup option in the footer – just below the comments section.)
____________________
Disclaimer: From time to time, I will make a suggestion directing you to a specific product or service. I will make a small amount of money if you purchase any of these. This will not cost you anything extra, and it helps keep theOMYs.com’s free content accessible to anyone seeking this information.
____________________
NOTE: This post has a comments section at the bottom. This is also a sign-up form; You are asked for your username and email to discourage spamming. You can also click the button to get an email when I post my newsletters. Once you have made your first comment, you will be remembered, and will not be asked for this information again on any of my newsletters.