Elevated creatinine levels
Creatinine levels can be elevated for various reasons. The creatinine value is only of limited relevance for medical evaluation. This is because changes in creatinine levels only become visible when the filter function of the kidney has already decreased by half.
Therefore, the value is mainly used as a control in people with known kidney damage. The creatinine value can deviate from the already wide-ranging norm values. Since creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine, which is mainly used in the muscles, athletic people with a lot of muscle mass automatically have a higher creatinine value than untrained people.
If the creatinine level in the blood is elevated, this allows conclusions to be drawn about a functional disorder of the kidneys, because normally the creatinine is almost completely excreted from them. Possible diseases of the kidney are for example renal insufficiency, inflammation of the kidney such as inflammation of the renal pelvis, etc. Other possible causes of elevated creatinine levels may be pregnancy, underweight, increased muscle mass, high blood loss or muscle inflammation, or other conditions such as diabetes or heart failure.Taking creatine to improve performance in sports and taking certain drugs can also have an effect on creatinine levels.
An elevated creatinine level alone does not say much about possible diseases or the cause of the increase. If the creatinine level is elevated, further investigations will be initiated first. These include an ultrasound of the kidney, taking tissue samples, analyzing the patient’s medical history and current living conditions.
Since the creatinine level is an indirect indicator of kidney function, high creatinine levels can lead to other symptoms specific to the underlying disease. These include, for example, kidney diseases such as heart failure. In the case of diabetes, kidney damage is considered a frequent secondary disease, which is why the creatinine level should always be checked regularly.
If the kidney is already damaged, other organs may also be at risk. Due to the low significance of the creatinine value alone, it is not possible to make an exact statement about the possible consequences of increased values. As a general rule, if the creatinine level is significantly elevated, a thorough investigation of the causes should be conducted in order to be able to detect or treat diseases in time.
However, if the elevated creatinine level is accompanied by a greatly reduced GFR, life-threatening conditions can occur. Due to the increasing poisoning of the urine, affected persons suffer from symptoms such as: Pulmonary edema, brain damage or pericarditis are also rare but possible consequences of elevated creatinine levels.
- Tiredness
- Lack of concentration
- Frequent urination
- Pain when urinating
- Headaches
- Fever
- Low load capacity
- Nocturnal urination
- General lassitude
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Severe stomach ache
The reduction of the creatinine level is mainly directed to the treatment of the underlying disease.
There is not one universal method to bring the creatinine level back into the normal range. Rather the basic illness must be treated. For example, if the kidney is malfunctioning, this initially means a change in diet to a less protein-rich diet in order to improve the filtering capacity of the kidney.
In general, there are several measures that can help to lower creatinine levels, including Sufficient fluid intake, (at least 1.5-2l) to avoid dehydration and to produce enough urine to flush out toxins. Lifestyle change. This includes, for example, changing your diet or restricting physical activity to gentle sports such as yoga, Pilates or walking.
Sufficient sleep to keep the metabolism in a good rhythm. Conscious use of medication. This means that medication that has a negative effect on creatinine levels (e.g. ASA, ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs) should be omitted.
However, if medically indicated, the use of ACE inhibitors or ciclospoprine A can treat kidney disease and therefore be useful. Herbal teas, especially nettle tea, can help to eliminate toxins more easily and flush the kidney. In general, when lowering creatinine levels, it is important to know which cause caused the levels to rise, so that, conversely, the cause can be targeted so that creatinine levels automatically return to normal.
To be on the safe side, you should discuss every therapy with your doctor beforehand to avoid risks.
- Adequate fluid intake, (at least 1.5-2l) to avoid dehydration and to produce sufficient urine to flush out toxins.
- Change of lifestyle. This includes, for example, changing the diet or restricting physical activity to gentle sports such as yoga, Pilates or walking.
- Sufficient sleep to keep the metabolism in a good rhythm.
- Conscious use of medication. This means that drugs that have a negative effect on creatinine levels (e.g. ASA, ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs) should be omitted. However, if medically indicated, the use of ACE inhibitors or ciclospoprine A can treat kidney disease and therefore be useful.
- Herbal teas, especially nettle tea, can help to eliminate toxins more easily and flush the kidneys.
