High Creatinine Level: Causes And Symptoms

The chemical waste created by the metabolic activities of body muscles is known as creatine. Creatine is a significant chemical molecule that helps in the production of energy for the muscles. It is the main source of creatinine in our body. About 2% of the body's creatine is converted into creatinine every day and is transported to the kidneys for disposal. The kidneys function to eliminate most of the creatinine via urine.

Normal levels of creatinine in the blood are 0.6 to 1.2 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL) in adult males and 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL in adult females. You can find the level of creatinine in the blood high at times.

Let's look at the causes and symptoms cause high creatinine in blood below:

Causes of High Creatinine Level

Kidneys are the most important organs for eliminating waste from our body. They filter all chemical by-products carried by the blood and excrete it from our body through urine. If the normal kidney function is interrupted or impaired by any disease or condition, then you may find a rise in the level of creatinine. Here's the list of what causes the creatinine levels to go up.

• Various supplements, medications, and foods can temporarily raise the levels of creatinine in the blood
• Consuming large amounts of proteins and red meat
• Doing strenuous or heavy exercises
• Kidney impairment and infections

Certain diseases also affect the kidneys resulting in high creatinine levels:

• Gout
• Diabetes
• Abnormal muscle breakdown due to rhabdomyolysis or muscular dystrophy.
• High blood pressure
• Urinary tract infections
• Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus
• Goodpasture syndrome
• Blood loss caused by shock

High Creatinine Symptoms

The disturbing symptoms of high creatinine in blood include:

• Swelling or edema
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes in urination
• Dehydration
• Muscle cramps and chest pains
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Confusion

Looking at the alarming causes and symptoms of high creatinine levels in blood it becomes obligatory for us to go for a master health checkup package at least twice annually. The temporary elevation of creatinine can be due to the intake of various medications, large amounts of proteins or red meat, large amounts of physical activities or dehydration but the condition can be more serious if there is kidney impairment involved as the underlying cause of high creatinine levels. Thus check with your Indus Health Plus health care provider and get your kidney diagnosed periodically if you have high blood creatinine levels. You may also opt for a full body checkup package to lead a healthier life.