Reasons for Elevated Creatine Levels

The University of Maryland Medical Center identifies creatine as an amino acid, or protein building block, that is found within your skeletal muscle tissue. Creatine kinase (CK) is a bodily function associated with this enzyme that produces energy. Creatine may not cause illness, but elevated creatine levels are associated with tissue damage that may signal intense exercise, neuromuscular disorders, kidney disease or even a heart attack.

Exercise

• Exercise that features quick bursts of muscle exertion leads to elevated creatine levels. A National Institutes of Health study of college football players performing two-a-day practices found these athletes all had elevated creatine levels during that period.

Neuromuscular Disorders

• The Muscular Dystrophy Association says, "during the process of muscle degeneration, muscle cells break open and their contents find their way into the bloodstream." Creatine's role within your body is not related to the loss of muscle control. Rather, "grossly elevated" creatine levels are a signal of acute and degenerative muscle damage--because large amounts of creatine that would normally remain within your muscle cells are being released.

Kidney Disease

• Renal failure, or kidney disease, describes the body's inability to adequately emit waste through urine. Creatinine is a byproduct of creatine and is associated with the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), or your body's ability to filter waste. Creatinine is filtered out of the body through the kidneys, and high levels of creatinine may indicate that your kidneys are not functioning well.

Heart Attack

• The American Heart Association cites elevated creatine levels as an indicator of heart muscle damage that is used to predict and confirm heart attacks.

Symptoms and Blood Tests

• You should consult with your physician if your family has a history of heart, kidney or neuromuscular problems. Symptoms of these diseases include nausea, dizziness, lack of muscle control and extreme fatigue. A licensed medical professional will perform blood work to check your creatine levels before making a diagnosis.