Managing renal health involves monitoring biochemical markers like creatinine and albumin while adhering to specialized diets to prevent stone formation.
Healthy kidneys prevent proteins in the blood stream from spilling into the urine. This is why doctors often first suspect kidney disease when a patient presents with elevated urine protein, or proteinuria. Proteinuria often occurs when the kidneys become inflamed or diseased.
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Scarring of the kidneys is often presumed when there is persistent elevated urine protein, or serum creatinine. However, doctors are often unable to tell the cause of the scarring unless a biopsy is performed.
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Creatinine is included in most routine lab work because it is the most reliable indicator of kidney health. Kidney patients should know what creatinine is, how it is measured and what their creatinine values mean. Many patients find it helpful to maintain a spreadsheet of their creatinine levels.
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One of the first questions often asked by newly diagnosed kidney patients pertains to fish oil. While the jury is still out on whether the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil provide long-term benefit for kidney patients, as of 2011, more and more nephrologists are suggesting that their patients begin a fish oil regimen.
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