How to Monitor Kidney Function

Your kidneys, located below your rib cage and near the middle of your back, are on each side of your spine. When your kidneys are working normally they can process approximately 200 quarts of blood per day. They sift out about two quarts of extra water and waste products from the blood and convert the waste into urine. Serious health conditions, like kidney disease or diabetes, can reduce your kidney functions. So, it's important to test your kidneys to monitor their functions. Your doctor can perform tests or techniques to find out how efficiently your kidneys filter your blood.

Instructions

How to Monitor Kidney Function

• 1

  Take a blood test. Protein travels throughout the body via the blood. Once your cells use the protein, the waste product that is left from the protein, or urea, is returned to the blood. When your kidneys are healthy, the urea is taken from the blood and placed in the urine. However, the urea will remain in the blood if your kidneys are not working properly. A Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) will indicate how much waste product is returned to the blood and monitor your kidneys' function. Normally, 7 to 20 milligrams of urea is contained in the blood. However, a higher BUN reading means your kidneys may not be working at full strength.

• 2

  Calculate the blood. A Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) can calculate how well your kidneys filter the waste from your blood. Based on your age and values like race and sex, the GFR will calculate your kidney function. A GFR rate of greater than 90 is considered normal. However, a GFR result of 30 to 59 can indicate a moderate decrease in kidney function. A severe reduction in your kidney function will occur when your GFR is 15 to 29. Total kidney failure is indicated if your GFR is 15 or less.

• 3

  Undergo a blood pressure measurement. Although high blood pressure can lead to kidney disease, it can monitor your kidneys' function. Ask your health professional to measure your blood pressure with a blood pressure cuff. The results will tell your health professional if your kidneys are further impaired. A normal blood pressure result should be below 120/80. However, if you have kidney disease, your blood pressure should be below 130/80, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC).