Creatinine is a waste substance in the blood that is produced by muscle tissue when you move or do activities. The amount of creatinine in the blood is regulated by the kidneys. That is the reason why creatinine levels are often used as a way to assess kidney function.
Normally, creatinine in the blood will be filtered by the kidneys, then excreted through the urine. When the kidneys have problems or their function is impaired, creatinine cannot be filtered properly.
This can cause creatinine levels in the blood to increase and trigger various health problems. This is why it is important to have regular kidney function tests, which include tests for creatinine levels, done regularly.
In addition to evaluating kidney function, creatinine tests in the examination of kidney function are also usually performed to monitor the response to treatment therapy in kidney patients.
Healthy kidneys are able to keep levels of creatinine and various other substances, such as urea and electrolytes, in the blood within normal limits. High levels of creatinine and urea in the blood indicate that kidney function is impaired.
Causes of Increased and Decreased Creatinine in the Body
Normal creatinine levels in adults range from 0.6–1.2 mg/dL for men and 0.5–1.1 mg/dL for women. However, the range of normal creatinine values may vary from laboratory to laboratory.
Creatinine levels are usually slightly elevated in young adults or people who have a lot of muscle tissue, such as athletes or people who do heavy lifting.
However, apart from age and muscle tissue mass in the body, increased creatinine levels can also be caused by certain medical conditions or diseases, such as:
- Kidney problems, such as kidney failure, kidney stones, and kidney infections
- Dehydration
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Side effects of certain medications, such as antibiotics, acid-lowering drugs, and diuretics
- Often consume large amounts of meat
On the other hand, creatinine levels may decrease in people who are malnourished, chronically ill, and have drastic weight loss. Decreased creatinine levels are also often experienced by the elderly.
In healthy people, routine kidney function tests and creatinine tests can be done every 1-2 years. This examination can be done as part of a health examination or as part of a medical examination check-up.
However, in people with certain diseases, such as kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, kidney and creatinine levels may need to be checked more often, according to the schedule determined by the doctor.
Symptoms of Creatinine Amount Disorders and Kidney Damage
High creatinine levels can be a sign of kidney damage. In the early stages, this condition usually causes no symptoms.
However, if kidney damage is not detected early, this condition can get worse and lead to severe kidney damage that can cause various signs and symptoms, such as:
- Often tired
- Body feels weak
- Swelling in certain body parts, such as the legs, arms, face, stomach, and eyes
- Urinating infrequently or not urinating at all for several days
- Dark urine or blood resembling tea
- Back or waist pain
- Fever
- Headache
- Hard to breathe
- Loss of consciousness or fainting
If you feel some of the symptoms as above, immediately see a doctor for a complete medical examination.
To evaluate the health of your kidneys and determine the cause of your kidney problems, your doctor will perform a physical examination and additional tests, such as kidney function tests, which include glomerular filtration rate (GFR), BUN, urea, and creatinine levels, as well as urine tests, such as urinalysis and urine albumin.
The doctor will also suggest an ultrasound of the kidneys, X-rays, CT scans, or pyelography to assess the condition of the kidneys.
If the results of the examination show that you have kidney problems, the doctor will treat the condition according to the cause, for example by stopping the use of drugs that can damage the kidneys or recommending a dialysis procedure.
To prevent kidney problems and keep creatinine levels normal, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a normal weight, eating a balanced nutritious diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, and managing stress well.
You also need to undergo regular health checks to the doctor to monitor your kidney function and creatinine levels, especially if you have a disease or medical condition that has the potential to cause kidney problems.