You were given the results of research in the laboratory. What can a person who understands little about medicine feel when looking at these incomprehensible numbers? First of all, confusion. Of course, it is not very difficult to determine the increase or decrease in this or that indicator, because the normal values \u200b\u200bare indicated in the same form. To interpret the obtained figures, certain knowledge is required. Take the well-known urine test. The first thing that attracts attention is the specific gravity of urine. What does this indicator say?
Urine specific gravity (also called urine relative gravity) measures the ability of the kidneys to concentrate substances in the urine to be removed from the body. These include, in particular, urea, urinary s alts, uric acid and creatinine. The specific gravity of urine is normally in the range from 1012 to 1027, it is determined using a urometer. The measurement is carried out in the laboratory. Recently, the determination of the density of urine is carried out on special equipment using dry chemistry methods.
If more fluid is excreted from the body than usual, then the concentration of dissolved substances in the urinedecreases. Consequently, the specific gravity of urine also decreases. This condition is called hypostenuria. It can be noted in he althy people who consume large amounts of fluid after taking diuretic foods (watermelons, melons). Fans of various diets may experience a decrease in the indicator (due to a lack of protein foods in the diet, especially when fasting).
With various diseases of the kidneys, their ability to concentrate various substances in the urine is disturbed, therefore, the decrease in specific gravity is not due to excessive fluid intake, but to a violation of the kidneys (pyelonephritis or glomerulonephritis, nephrosclerosis). Hypostenuria occurs in patients during the period of resorption of edema or effusions, when the fluid accumulated in the tissues quickly leaves the body. A decrease in the density of urine occurs while taking diuretic drugs. Monotonous specific gravity during the day should alert the doctor to pyelonephritis (especially in combination with nocturnal urination).
Increased relative density above 1030 is called hyperstenuria. A similar condition occurs in people with insufficient fluid intake. The specific gravity of urine, the norm of which is directly proportional to the drinking regimen of a person, can increase in the hot season, when a person sweats profusely, therefore, loses a lot of moisture. High numbers of this laboratory indicator are typical for workers in hot shops: cooks, blacksmiths, metallurgists.
Hyperstenuriaalso occurs with thickening of the blood, which occurs due to profuse vomiting or diarrhea. In patients with heart disease, there is an accumulation of fluid in the body, as a result of which diuresis decreases and the specific gravity of urine increases. In patients with diabetes mellitus, high specific gravity numbers are often detected in laboratories. In this case, it indicates a large amount of glucose in the urine.
The indicator also indirectly indicates how the patient adheres to the recommended drinking regimen. This is important for patients with kidney disease and urolithiasis.
A single change in the indicator is not decisive for the diagnosis, since daily fluctuations in the specific gravity can be in the range from 1004 to 1028, and this is normal.
