In the article, consider the rate of urea in the blood.
Determination of urea and creatinine in the blood is another way to detect metabolic disorders in the human body. These are the very first and main indicators of the initial and critical stages of kidney disease, liver dysfunction and muscle dystrophy.
Urea is a breakdown product of proteins. Produces its liver in the process of protein synthesis. Urea is excreted in the urine by the kidneys. To determine the amount of urea in a person, biochemical blood tests are performed. The rate of urea in the blood is associated with the age and gender of a person. It is worth saying that in women it is slightly lower. More specific information about this item can be found below.
What is the norm for women?
Indicators of the content of this element in women under sixty are in the range from 2 to 6.5 mmol per liter. Upon reaching the age of sixty, the norm of urea in the blood in women and men is approximately the sameand is in the range from 2.8 to 7.4 mmol per liter. Its content may be influenced by the following:
- The degree of liver performance.
- The level of functional state of the kidneys.
- The amount of amino acids involved in protein metabolism.
Urea: normal for men
When conducting biochemical analyzes, laboratory assistants determine the amount of important substances such as hemoglobin, urea, glucose, cholesterol, creatinine and various enzymes. The norm of urea in the blood in men should be:
- Age under sixty from 2.5 mmol per liter to 6.4.
- In older men, normal values range from 2.8 to 7.4 mmol per liter of blood.
Some sources indicate slightly higher upper limits for blood urea in men around 8.2 mmol per liter of blood.
Below the norm for women
Of course, it's good when the urea is normal.
In the event that, as a result of a biochemical study, a low concentration of this element in the blood was detected in a woman, then the reasons for this change are:
- A diet that involves the exclusion from the diet of any animal products in the form of meat, milk or eggs, as well as fish, along with prolonged fasting.
- Presence of liver disease in the form of hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatodystrophy or hepatic coma.
- The development of acromegaly, which is a hormonal pathology that manifests itself in the formdisproportionate enlargement of certain parts of the body.
- Disruption in the thyroid gland leads to a deviation from the norm of urea in the blood.
- The occurrence of poisoning with compounds that contain arsenic and phosphorus.
- The presence of malabsorption in the form of a decrease in the absorption of amino acids in the intestine.
It is not uncommon to observe a decrease relative to the norm of urea in the blood of women during pregnancy. This change is directly related to the fact that the maternal protein goes to build the body of the developing child. Next, find out what high concentrations of urea in the body indicate.
High concentration of urea
Exceeding the norm of urea can always indicate the presence of serious diseases. Often a high level of this substance is observed in such diseases:
- Presence of kidney failure and other ailments in the form of pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, tuberculosis and the like.
- Impaired outflow of urine as a result of urolithiasis, tumors in the bladder, etc.
- Development of myocardial infarction along with heart failure.
- Occurrence of bowel obstruction along with bleeding occurring in the digestive system.
- Development of hyperthyroidism along with leukemia.
- Having diabetes due to impaired urea excretion.
- Getting burn wounds and developing a state of shock.
- Poisoning of the body with mercury-containing components, phenol or oxalic acid.
- Significant dehydration due to diarrhea or vomiting.
In addition, excess urea in men and women may be the result of extremely strong physical overstrain (especially during intense training) or the predominance of protein foods in the diet. Sometimes the level of urea can increase due to the individual reaction of the human body to the use of medications, including anabolics along with corticosteroids, antibiotics and sulfonamides.
The norm of urea in women depends on age.
A significant increase in urea in medicine is called uremia (hyperazotemia). This condition is usually caused by the fact that the accumulation of fluid in the cells leads to their increase and a serious deterioration in function. At the same time, ammonia intoxication is noted, which manifests itself in disorders of the nervous system. Various other complications may also appear.
You can normalize the urea content by performing a course of treatment of the underlying disease. An important role in the treatment and prevention is played by a properly composed diet. Urea and creatinine should be normal.
Find out what creatinine is.
Creatinine
This element is the end product of protein metabolism, which is excreted from the human body through the kidneys. Creatinine indicators reflect the functioning of this organ along with the state of muscle tissue. The content of creatinine is detected by performing a biochemical analysis of the study,while it is necessary to take into account the fact that its norm for males and females is different. What levels of creatinine in women are considered normal? We will talk about this later.
Creatinine norm
The norm of creatinine in women depends primarily on age. The reference figure by age category is as follows:
- At the age of fourteen to eighteen years, the amount of this element is from 44 to 88 micromoles per liter.
- Ages eighteen to fifty 53 to 97 µmol per liter.
- At the age of fifty years from 53 to 106 micromoles per liter.
Thus, before reaching puberty, the norm is usually lower by about nine units. And after the age of fifty, women will, on average, have a creatinine rate higher by about nine units.
Pregnant women often observe a significant decrease in this indicator relative to normal values. A very common situation is when a woman who is expecting a child, having learned the results of the analysis, is horrified that her creatinine is almost half the norm. In fact, this is a temporary picture associated with the peculiarities of physiology.
Creatinine: preparation for testing
In order for the result of the analysis to determine the content of this element to be the most reliable, you must do the following:
- Exclude any physical activity, at least two days in advance.
- During the day do not take alcohol, teaor coffee. Also, eat less protein foods.
- Eight hours before visiting the laboratory, you can not eat, you can only drink water without gas.
- Before blood sampling, relax and sit for at least ten minutes in a completely calm state.
Causes of changes in the level of creatinine and its high level
An increase in creatinine indicates, first of all, a pathological process in the kidneys resulting from infection, the appearance of a tumor, insufficient outflow or inflow of blood. Other reasons for an increase in creatinine are:
- Development of heart failure.
- The appearance of an injury with muscle damage along with extensive burn wounds.
- The appearance of significant blood loss, including internal bleeding.
- The occurrence of pathologies of the muscular system in the form of myasthenia gravis, dystrophy, and so on.
- Development of endocrine disorders in the form of acromegaly, hyperthyroidism and the like.
- Having dehydration or radiation sickness.
In addition, creatinine levels are elevated in patients who prefer meat. The use of certain barbiturate medications, including exactly how thiazide diuretics, sulfonamides, and others, can also lead to an increase in creatinine. It should be noted that an increase in the concentration of this blood element is often observed in patients who are prone to obesity. An increase in creatinine may be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- The appearance of pain and a feeling of heaviness in the lumbar region.
- Occurrence of difficulty breathing.
- The occurrence of a constant feeling of fatigue with a breakdown.
- Decreased appetite and nausea.
- Violation of urinary excretion up to the development of complete absence of urine.
- High blood pressure along with confusion and seizures.
Low Creatinine
Below normal creatinine levels can be caused by:
- Severe liver disease such as cirrhosis.
- Significant loss of muscle mass due to prolonged fasting or illness.
- The development of hyperhydration.
Prolonged use of corticosteroids can also cause a decrease in creatinine levels. Thus, the appropriate concentration of creatinine in the blood is a sign of he alth. Numbers that correspond to normal indicators are noted in people whose internal organs with body systems function without any significant problems.
We examined the rate of urea in women and men.
