How to Lower Creatine Levels for Chronic Kidney Patients

Creatine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is stored in muscle tissue for energy. According to the National Library of Medicine, when creatine is metabolized, a byproduct called creatinine is formed, which is then eliminated from the body through the kidneys 1. Those who suffer from chronic kidney disease have impaired kidneys, which results in the inefficient removal of blood toxins like creatinine. When toxins build up in the blood, severe health complications can occur, including fatigue due to anemia, water retention and even kidney failure. To reduce creatine and creatinine levels in the blood, several steps must be taken to improve the outcome for patients with chronic kidney disease.

Know Your Numbers

Get a physical. Make an appointment with your doctor to get a routine physical. Part of this physical will include a blood test to measure your kidney function, among other things.

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Consult with your doctor. After your physical and the lab test results are in, discuss with your doctor an appropriate medical plan.

Know your creatinine 12. Your lab results will give you information about the amount of creatine in your blood. According to LabTestsOnline.com, blood tests include blood creatinine, creatinine clearance, BUN/creatinine ratio and protein/creatinine ratio 2. All these tests give you information about your kidney function. Make an effort to understand these numbers and what range is considered normal or abnormal. Make it your goal to get your numbers into the normal range.

Control Your Blood Pressure

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Check your blood pressure. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, high blood pressure can lead to chronic kidney disease and vice versa, which can cause high blood creatinine levels 1.

Get a prescription. If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about medications to control it. Common blood pressure medicines include angiotensin converting enzyme, or ACE, inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, or ARBs.

Monitor your blood pressure. Sufferers of chronic kidney disease should carefully monitor their blood pressure because it can cause more damage to the kidneys, resulting in an increase of dangerous blood toxins like creatinine.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Stop smoking. If you are a smoker, you need to stop now. Smoking significantly increases your blood pressure, which can further damage your kidneys and leave elevated levels of toxins in your blood.

Eat a low-protein diet. Foods rich in protein, like meat, fish and beans, should be limited to reduce the buildup of blood toxins like creatinine. Instead, incorporate more fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods into your diet to replace the high-protein foods.

Reduce your cholesterol. Cholesterol contributes to hardened arteries, which can increase blood pressure and damage your kidneys. Focus on low-fat foods in your diet to lower your cholesterol to healthy levels.

Tips

Always follow your doctor’s recommendations. Should you have any doubt about your medical plan, seek a second opinion from another qualified professional.

Warnings

Don’t ignore your treatment plan. Failure to follow all recommendations could end up in complete kidney failure and even death.