Normal human beings have a pair of kidneys on either side of spine just below the rib cage. These human fist sized organs located in the back of abdomen function as filters and drain out the waste and toxic elements from the body. They also help in maintaining water levels in the body along with essential minerals. They play a key role in production of Vitamin D, regulating body blood pressure and production of red blood cells.
In case of any suspected kidney functions, you might be asked to undergo a Kidney function test. As a prelude simple blood and urine tests are conducted to see what ails the kidneys. In case the patient is suffering with diabetes and or blood pressure issues, a comprehensive Kidney function test becomes imperative. First let us see what symptoms manifest in kidney problems.
Symptoms of Kidney problems:
- Frequent urge for urination
- Blood in urine
- Pain while urinating
- Other associated problems with urinating like difficulty to begin urination
- Blood pressure fluctuations
- Swelling of feet and hands due to water retention
Though these are a few of the symptoms indicating kidney problems, a person can loose many vital functions of kidneys before the symptoms manifest. Silent damage to kidneys is a possibility and hence a periodical test of kidney functioning must be taken to rule out issues in future. Most hospitals and diagnostic centers offer kidney checkup packages these days. Three tests are usually recommended to detect early stage problems. They help in assessing the content of wastage in blood (Creatinine), level of loss of proteins through urine and blood pressure level.
Treatment:
Kidney Functioning Test / Renal Profile consists of
- Completed Blood Picture
- Completed Urine Examination
- Random Blood Glucose
- Blood Urea
- Serum Creatinine
- Serum Total protein(Albumin/Globulin/A/G Ratio)
- Serum Uric Acid
- Urinary protein Creatinine Ratio
- Ultrasound Whole Abdomen & KUB
- X-ray KUB
- NA,k.CL
- Calcium, Phosphorus
Early stage of kidney disease might necessitate a course of treatment to arrest the damage and fortify kidney functions. If the tests reveal hypertension (high blood pressure), the physician will prescribe medication to rein in blood pressure. Blood pressure being basically a life style disorder, a suitable change in life pattern, dietary habits and intake timings may be modified.
Similar treatment, though medication varies, holds good if the tests indicate that the patient is suffering from diabetes. Diabetes too is a life style disorder calling in for shift from the current way of living. Ideal control of glucose levels in the body is necessary to address diabetic issues, either with medication or with dietary changes or with both.
Apart from these two major causative factors of kidney diseases, another major kidney related issue is presence of stones in kidneys. Depending on the size and quantum of stones present in the kidneys, the physician will devise a suitable plan of treatment which may include blasting of the stones with laser.