Timely diagnosis and laboratory tests can prevent the development of many unwanted pathologies in the body. At the same time, determining the level of urea in the blood makes it possible to identify and prevent some malignant cell degenerations. Therefore, the analysis of chemical hematological parameters and components is often a vital stage in the life of every person.
What does the level of this substance in liquid connective tissue indicate?
Products that remain in the process of protein breakdown are called blood urea. The analysis obtained as a result of the study makes it possible to judge the ability of the urinary system to get rid of substances unnecessary to the body.
Uric Acid and Urea: Similarities and Differences
Many people confuse these concepts. Despite the fact that these indicators belong to the same group of residual nitrogen, in biochemical studies they are considered as completely different criteria. This is due to the fact that they indicate various violations.
Blood tests to determine the amount of uric acid are usually prescribed in a complex of studies in the diagnosis of a number of diseases. Deviation of indicators from the norm may indicate the occurrence of problems with the liver or muscle tissue.
Creatinine and urea in the blood, determined during biochemical studies, are analyzed to detect the amount of metabolic products of the main components present in the body. Deviation of these indicators to a greater or lesser extent indicates the development of hidden pathologies.
The rate of urea in the blood
The level of basic biochemical parameters of liquid connective tissue can fluctuate due to some physiological changes in the body. So, for example, the urea indices are affected by the patient’s daily diet and physical activity. With a deficiency of protein food in the diet, the level of this substance is significantly reduced. In this case, increased urea in the blood is detected with an excess of protein compounds.
Normally, in healthy adults, this indicator in the blood is in the range of 2.5 - 8.3 mmol / liter, and in daily urine –20.0 - 35.0 g / day (333.6 - 587.7 mmol / day )
Urea Levels Changes: Physiological Causes
The range of normal blood urea is quite wide. This is due to many physiological conditions of the body and primarily depends on the age of the patient.
In adolescence and during puberty, the levels of protein breakdown and output of metabolic products may be slightly lower than in adults. Throughout life, the concentration of urea in the body can be approximately in the same range, but closer to old age, their usual values increase slightly.
Urea levels can fluctuate throughout the day. Here, the factors determining the magnitude of this criterion and not related to various pathologies are:
- psycho-emotional states and stressful situations;
- physical overload;
- eating protein-rich foods.
Often the quantitative values of the level of this indicator are affected by the use of certain drugs, which also increase the urea content in the blood. However, these factors do not have a significant effect and do not need medical interventions. In this case, the body is able to independently cope with the resulting imbalance.
Deviations from the norm: reasons
Increased blood urea can be detected with:
- a variety of inflammatory and infectious diseases of the kidneys: pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, tuberculosis, amyloidosis, renal failure and hypertension;
- impaired blood supply to the kidneys or with internal bleeding;
- obstruction of the ureter tubes or the formation of obstacles to the exit of urine into the external environment;
- increased level of breakdown of protein compounds;
- dehydration of the body;
- vascular insufficiency;
- shock conditions of the body.
During pregnancy
It is known that blood urea in women is significantly lower than in men. These indicators are even lower during pregnancy. Special control of urea is necessary in cases where the history of the expectant mother is burdened by disorders such as pyelonephritis, kidney stone disease, and diabetes mellitus. In such situations, the risk of developing renal failure is great.
Symptoms of abnormalities
Changes in blood test parameters (urea, creatinine, uric acid and other parameters of protein breakdown products) are manifested by a number of symptoms, namely:
- pallor, lethargy, drowsiness, or malaise;
- the appearance of brittle hair and nails;
- dry skin;
- frequent urination;
- irregular blood pressure;
- joint pain and aches;
- anemia
- the appearance of blood in the urine;
- general weakness.
In these cases, it is extremely important to identify and rule out the true causes of increased urea in the blood, since at this moment, in addition to the deterioration of the general condition, the body is intoxicated with ammonia. Because of this, the skin, mucous membranes and sweat secreted become an unpleasant smell of urine.
In addition, pathological conditions, such as:
- renal failure resulting from impaired renal excretory function or other pathological phenomena (for example, renal tuberculosis, amyloidosis, pyelo- or glomerulonephritis);
- urination disorders resulting from the development of diseases such as urolithiasis, prostatitis or neoplasms in the genitourinary system;
- pathologies of the cardiovascular system, leading to insufficient blood flow to the kidneys and its incomplete purification;
- endocrine ailments that lead to malfunctioning of the kidneys;
- metabolic disorders in the body that provoke the development of thyroid dysfunction and, as a result, cause a malfunction in the kidneys;
- blood diseases in which protein catabolism increases.
An increase in blood urea provokes malnutrition of tissues in the body. In severe cases of intoxication and starvation of tissues, a coma may occur.
Need for treatment: consequences
Ignoring the manifestations of the clinical symptoms of an imbalance in the body can lead to the gradual death of brain cells and irreversible disruption of the central nervous system. In addition, such processes lead to a number of dangerous pathological conditions.
The consequences of the fatal effects of urea accumulated in the body are most often the development of:
- hematological diseases (leukemia, leukemia, malignant anemia, hemolytic jaundice);
- severe infections, including intestinal (dysentery, typhoid fever, cholera);
- intestinal diseases (obstruction, peritonitis, thrombosis);
- prostate tumors;
- neoplasms in the kidneys and urinary tract, etc.
In addition, the result of increased production of urea can be the development of shock conditions and burn disease. Therefore, we can safely declare the vital need to control and eliminate the causes of increased protein breakdown, i.e. increased urea in the blood. How to treat these undesirable manifestations can only be said by a qualified medical professional.
What causes the decline in performance
A decrease in blood creatinine and urea levels can occur due to prolonged diets. As a rule, during their observance, a person consumes a minimum amount of animal fats.
In some cases, the production of urea can occur due to the intake of growth hormones, the development of serious liver pathologies or metabolic disorders, when the body is not able to independently produce the necessary enzymes.
How to reduce urea in the body
With a rapid increase in the indicator (when its values exceed 10 mmol / liter), drug therapy is necessary. This, first of all, is associated with the danger of the development of pathologies. One cannot speak of any self-medication in this case, since this threatens to aggravate the state of health.
If the blood urea is elevated, the doctor observing the patient will tell you how to treat this phenomenon. If necessary, he will recommend to undergo additional laboratory and instrumental examinations or refer to specialized specialists.
Probenecid is most often prescribed as a medication that helps lower urea levels. This tool has a positive effect on the kidneys and promotes the excretion of acid. However, it has a number of contraindications. An alternative to Probenecid may be Allopurinol.
At the same time as taking medications, special therapeutic diets are recommended.
ethnoscience
When identifying and eliminating the causes of urea in the blood (its increase, that is, with increased production of protein breakdown products), it is recommended to use some recipes of alternative medicine. Here, the main type of healing therapy is the use of teas, decoctions and infusions, prepared on the basis of:
- rosehip leaves;
- juniper;
- St. John's wort
- blackcurrant fruits;
- elderberries;
- inflorescences cornflower.
However, such treatment can only be done with the approval of a doctor. With increased urea in the blood, the doctor will not only select the appropriate herbal composition, but also recommend the optimal treatment regimen and course.
Diets to lower urea
With kidney disease and an increase in urea in the body, doctors often recommend adjusting the diet. The essence of the therapeutic diet is to limit the use of extractive substances that irritate the kidneys. This helps to improve the excretion of under-oxidized metabolic products (toxins) from the body and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
However, one should not forget that any diet should consist of a variety of foods that contain vital elements: vitamins, proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the optimal amount. The presence of lipotropic properties in the diet is very important here (for example, milk and dairy products, but sour cream and cream should be with a minimum percentage of fat content).
You should abandon the use of large amounts of salt. It is necessary to introduce diuretic products into the daily diet. First of all, these are fresh: pumpkin, zucchini, cucumbers, beets, fresh fruits and berries. The diet should be fractional, and the daily diet is divided into 4-6 meals. It is also necessary to consume a sufficient amount of clean drinking water: at least 1 liter should be drunk per day.
Forecasts and recommendations of doctors
To exclude the likelihood of developing serious pathologies in the body, modern medicine recommends a regular biochemical blood test. Urea and creatinine, discovered as a result of the study, will allow to identify and prevent the development of many serious pathologies in the body at an early stage.