What are the causes and solutions for high creatinine levels?
Sep 30, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Elevated creatinine levels may be related to factors such as excessive protein intake, intense physical exercise, acute kidney injury, glomerulonephritis, or diabetic nephropathy. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician. In daily life, adjust your diet by reducing high-protein foods and increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, maintain a balanced schedule of exercise and rest to avoid overexertion, and uphold healthy lifestyle habits.
In general, elevated creatinine levels may be related to factors such as excessive protein intake, intense physical exercise, acute kidney injury, glomerulonephritis, or diabetic nephropathy. These conditions can be managed through lifestyle adjustments, appropriate rest, and medication. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention and follow a doctor's guidance for treatments including general management and pharmacological therapy. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Excessive Protein Intake
Consuming large amounts of protein over a short period increases the kidneys' burden of excreting creatinine, which may lead to elevated creatinine levels. It is important to adjust one’s diet by reducing protein intake and moderately increasing consumption of vegetables and fruits to maintain a balanced diet.
2. Intense Physical Exercise
Engaging excessively in fitness activities or strenuous exercises such as running significantly accelerates muscle metabolism, leading to increased production of creatine. This creatine can then be converted into creatinine in the body. To eliminate this excess creatinine, the kidneys must work harder, potentially causing temporarily elevated blood creatinine levels. With adequate rest and reduced intensity of exercise, blood creatinine levels usually return to normal within a short time.
3. Acute Kidney Injury
Acute kidney injury can be caused by factors such as drug toxicity, severe infections, or obstructive urinary tract diseases, potentially resulting in sudden kidney damage and consequently elevated blood creatinine levels. Symptoms may also include reduced urine output, flank pain, nausea, and vomiting. Patients may take medications such as torasemide tablets, benazepril hydrochloride tablets, or irbesartan tablets under medical supervision.
4. Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis, often triggered by bacterial infection, may damage the kidney’s filtration barrier, leading to abnormal kidney function and elevated creatinine levels. Associated symptoms may include hematuria (blood in urine), proteinuria (protein in urine), edema, and hypertension. Treatment may include medications such as compound cyclophosphamide tablets, prednisolone acetate tablets, or furosemide tablets, taken as directed by a physician.
5. Diabetic Nephropathy
Diabetic nephropathy results from prolonged high blood glucose levels, which can cause microvascular damage in the kidneys, leading to elevated creatinine levels. Symptoms may include blurred vision, increased thirst and urination, weight loss, and peripheral neuropathy. Patients may use medications such as metformin hydrochloride tablets, nifedipine sustained-release tablets, or glimepiride capsules under medical guidance.
To support kidney health, individuals should adjust their diet by reducing high-protein foods and increasing fruit and vegetable intake, maintain a balanced routine of exercise and rest to avoid overexertion, and adopt healthy lifestyle habits such as ensuring sufficient sleep and drinking adequate water.
