Wastes and excess fluid are removed from the blood.Maintaining a stable balance of chemicals in the body is dependent on the kidneys.More than 26 million Americans, or 1 out of every 9 adults, suffer from kidney disease, meaning that the kidneys are not functioning effectively.If discovered early, the disease can be treated to prevent more serious problems.There are many ways to measure the function of the kidneys.
Step 1: Discuss your issues with your doctor.
Let your doctor know if you have any symptoms.It's possible to have symptoms such as puffy eyes, hands a feet, passage of bloody, cloudy or tea-colored urine, excessive foaming of the urine and fatigue and loss of appetite.A series of tests will be ordered by your doctor.The National Kidney Foundation recommends two simple tests to check your health, one assessing your blood and the other your urine.
Step 2: Understand how the blood test works.
It's important to know what the tests measure and what information they give about your kidneys.It is possible to keep anxiety at bay by staying informed.There is a blood test.It measures the amount of blood in your body.Your GFR is what it is called.The normal value for GFR is 90 or above.A GFR below 60 is a sign that the kidneys are malfunctioning.
Step 3: Understand the test.
The urine test can be used to detect a sign of kidney disease.The urine leaks when the filters in the kidneys are damaged.There are several different names for this test.It is also known as a "urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio."
Step 4: Get the sample.
A technician will draw a blood sample from your arm at the medical lab clinic.If your health care provider wants to affect the results, they may ask you to temporarily stop taking your medication.Antibiotics, stomach acid, and chemotherapy medicines are included.The risks of a blood test are low.In rare cases, people may experience excessive bleeding, lightheadedness, or infections.When a needle is inserted into an arm, some people feel some pain.Most of the time, they don't feel a lot of pain.There might be a throbbing or a slight bruise after the sample is drawn, but it shouldn't last long.The sample is sent for testing.
Step 5: Get the sample.
Most of the time, you will be asked to give a urine sample at the doctor's office.Special preparation is not required for this test.There are no risks associated with providing a urine sample.In rare cases, you may have to collect all of your urine at home.You will need a special container from your doctor to do this.The sample is sent to a lab.
Step 6: Wait for the test results.
Once the results are available, you will be contacted by your doctor.If the results are positive, it's best to meet with him or her to discuss the potential diagnosis and treatment plan.
Step 7: Determine if additional tests are necessary with your doctor.
The results of the basic lab tests will be given to you by your physician.Subsequent tests may be recommended to confirm or assess the results.
Step 8: Get a test.
The size, shape, and location of the kidneys can be assessed with the help of a kidneys ultrasound.You'll need to make an appointment at a special clinic or medical center that does the tests.You may need to sign a consent form if the technician explains the procedure to you.Usually, no prior preparation is required.After applying some gel onto the area about to be imaged, the technician will pass a transducer over your abdomen.A transducer is a device that produces sound waves that bounce off the tissues of the body.When the echoes are sent to a computer, they are translated into images of your kidneys.
Step 9: Get a test.
This test uses contrast dye to show the kidneys.It can be used to look for obstructions in the kidneys.You will need to make an appointment at a special clinic or medical center that does renalCTs.If the procedure involves the use of contrast dye, you will need to sign a consent form.You need to not eat and drink before the test.You will lie on a table that slides into a large opening of the scanning machine during the test.The body's tissues are absorbed by the X-rays and sent to the computer.The information is transformed into an image by the computer.
Step 10: A patient is in a hospital.
You will need to schedule this procedure in advance so you can stay in the hospital for at least 12 hours.Percutaneous biopsies are done through the skin.In most cases, you will not be put to sleep with an anesthetic, but instead given medication to make you sleepy, while the area is numbed.The doctor will insert a needle into the kidneys.The person with the sample.You can see blood in your urine if the area feels sore or tender for a few days.If the symptoms persist, you should consult your doctor.