Is low kidney Function (eGFR) a Sign of kidney Failure?

Our body is a complex creation with multiple processes and organs functioning altogether. From a small cell, tissues are formed, and from tissues, our organs are formed.

Each and every organ is designed to perform a particular function in our body. Lungs help in breathing, the heart pumps the blood to the whole body, and kidneys filter our blood and remove toxins from our body.

We know that all these organs are important for our survival. But have you ever wondered what will happen if even a slight change in their function will occur? All these organs are interconnected and if even one of them will not be able to function properly, your whole body can be affected.

If your body has low kidney function, it leads to the accumulation of waste in our body. As a result, these toxins and waste products can deposit in different parts of the body. This can lead to swelling and reduced functioning of other organs.

Let’s discuss how the kidney functions in your body and what will happen to your body in conditions of low kidney function. Is it a sign of kidney failure? Before jumping into low kidney function, we will try to understand what a kidney is…

What are kidneys?

Kidneys are bean-shaped organs, located in the abdomen towards the back. The kidneys are similar to water purifiers. They are the filtering system of your body. The kidneys filter blood, remove all the waste materials from your blood and excrete these waste materials in your urine.

Nephrons are the small building blocks of the kidney. They are the main filtering unit of the kidney, which performs the major functions of purifying the blood.

Did you know?

Kidneys are almost the size of your fists and each kidney has about 1 million nephrons.

Now you know how the kidney works in the filtration process which further leads to the formation of urine and excretion of the same from your body, we will now discuss the function of the kidneys in your body.

Have you taken any recent kidney function blood tests? Reach out to us at Zyla.in or the Zyla app for a comprehensive analysis of blood test reports and to keep a check on signs of kidney failure.

Functions of kidneys

1. REMOVAL OF WASTE PRODUCTS

It removes all the waste products and excess fluid from the body. It removes two major unwanted products from your body which include uric acid (a breakdown product of nucleic acid) and urea (a breakdown product of proteins).

2. REABSORPTION OF ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS

It helps in the reabsorption of various nutrients which are essential for your body, which includes amino acids, glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate ions.

3. MAINTENANCE OF PH

In your body, a slight change in the pH is not acceptable, so maintaining an appropriate pH is very important. The kidney plays an important role in maintaining the pH of the body by absorbing or excreting the electrolytes as per the need of the body.

4. MAINTAINS HYDRATION

Your body requires a certain amount of water to function properly. Kidney keeps a check on this balance. If the water level decreases in the body it increases the water absorption from urine to prevent dehydration.

5. REGULATES BLOOD PRESSURE

The kidneys maintain the appropriate blood pressure in your system. If the blood pressure falls below the normal range, it increases the absorption of sodium chloride (salt) and water, which increases the blood pressure.

6. RELEASE HORMONES

It produces hormones that are essential for your body. For example, Calcitriol is a hormone produced by the kidney that converts the Vitamin D taken through supplements or sunlight into an active form that can be easily absorbed.

It also produces Erythropoietin, which controls the production of Red blood cells.

You have seen that the kidney plays a vital role in your body, especially in the case of filtration. But, sometimes this filtration is affected by certain factors and if you do not keep a check on this filtration process, it can lead to some serious damage to your system.

To check the functioning of kidneys or a sign of kidney failure one of the parameters is the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). So before considering the factors and treatment, you will first learn what eGFR is!

What is the Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)?

The glomerulus is a part of the nephron in the kidneys. It is the first filter of the blood that moves through the kidney.
The eGFR measures the amount of blood that is filtered by these glomeruli in a minute.
It is one of the parameters used to check the proper functioning of the kidneys.
There are several methods used to measure the eGFR, but the most common method is to calculate the eGFR with the help of creatinine levels.
Creatinine is a waste product formed by your muscles that is removed from the body through the kidneys.
Calculating the amount of creatinine eliminated by the kidneys helps in determining the eGFR.

Now that you know what eGFR is, let us look at the risk factors of low eGFR!

Risk Factors of Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

Some risk factors of low eGFR include:

1. DIABETES

In the case of some diabetic patients, blood sugar levels can increase. These high levels can clog the filtering vessels or make them narrow with time. As a result, the kidneys are not able to filter the desired amount of blood and this can result in low eGFR.

2. HYPERTENSION

Persistent high blood pressure can make the arteries around the kidney weaken, narrow, or harden. Hence, these damaged arteries are not able to deliver enough blood to the kidneys, ultimately leading to low eGFR.

3. FAMILY HISTORY OF KIDNEY FAILURE

There are more chances of low kidney function and signs of kidney failure if you have any family history of kidney failure or any chronic kidney disease.

Do you have any of the above risk factors or a family history of kidney disease? Reach out to us at Zyla.in or the Zyla app. We provide holistic personalized 24*7 preventative care for kidney health and would love to work with you to help you achieve your health goals.

We have discussed the major risk factors of low eGFR. So, in these cases, special care and precautions are suggested to be followed. Now, you will look at the causes of low eGFR, so that you can keep them in mind for better kidney function.

Causes of Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

Some of the causes of low eGFR include :

High Blood Sugar levels: If the blood sugar levels are high, over time it can affect kidney function. The elevated blood sugars can cause the blood vessels in the kidney to narrow and lead to reduced filtration.
High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure affects the blood flow to the kidneys, which leads to decreased filtration process and low kidney function.
Kidney stone: The stones in the kidneys can block the flow of urine resulting in obstruction and low kidney function.
Dehydration: It is very important for your system to maintain an adequate amount of water in your body. If you do not drink enough water, the rate of filtration slows down and this can lead to low eGFR.
Smoking: Frequent smoking can damage the kidneys over time. It harms the blood vessels and affects the flow of blood to the kidneys. It also increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Obesity: In the case of obese people, kidneys have to function more than in normal people. Over time, this extra work can lead to low eGFR.
Older age: Age is one of the major factors that influence kidney functioning. In the case of older people, kidney function normally decreases with time.
Exercise: During intense exercise, the renal blood flow is reduced because the breakdown of muscle mass increases.

For further reading on kidney health and uric acid, read our blog on the 4 risk factors of high uric acid.

We will now discuss the normal ranges of eGFR so that you can get a better idea of what to look for in order to know if our kidneys are functioning appropriately.

Normal Range of eGFR in an Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Test

The normal range of eGFR is mostly above 60 mL/min/1.73 m2.
If the levels are mostly below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for more than 3 months, then it is considered as a sign of one of the stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
If the levels are below 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 then it is considered a sign of kidney failure and requires immediate attention.
In an estimated glomerular filtration rate test, these ranges vary from lab to lab and also change with age, weight or gender.

We have discussed the causes and risk factors of low eGFR. Let’s take a look at the symptoms of the same so that we can plan to get our eGFR checked if we experience most of these symptoms.

Symptoms of Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

The symptoms of low eGFR include:

Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Swelling of ankles and feet
Muscle weakness and cramps
Urinating more or less than usual
Persistent itching
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
High blood pressure

Have you experienced any of these symptoms? Reach out to us at Zyla.in or the Zyla app. We provide expert care and support 24X7 including analysis of vitals and lab reports as well as senior doctor and nutritionist consultations to create a personalized health plan for you.

After discussing the symptoms of a low eGFR, we will now throw light on some of the measures that can help us protect our kidneys and can improve their functioning.

Prevention of Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

As we all know, “Prevention is better than cure”. You will now see some of the methods to prevent low eGFR or to improve the same.

Controlling blood sugar: To prevent slow damage to kidneys with time due to high blood sugar levels, try to achieve good glycemic control. This can be achieved by a balance of medicine and lifestyle modifications.
Controlling blood pressure: As already discussed, high blood pressure can affect the eGFR, so in case of hypertension always try to keep your blood pressure under control.
Protein in diet: Avoid eating too much protein in your diet because it can increase the workload on the kidneys. Prefer protein from plant sources and be thoughtful of animal protein intake.
Keep a check on salt in your diet: Be mindful of the amount of salt in your diet, as it affects blood pressure. It is advised to avoid packaged and processed foods as they contain high amounts of sodium and other preservatives.
Smoking: We already have discussed that smoking can cause low kidney function. It is advised to take steps to quit smoking in order to protect your kidney health.
Limit the alcohol intake: Alcohol also increases the load on kidneys and the kidneys have to work more than the normal in case of alcoholic people. So, try to limit the consumption of alcohol.
Manage the medical condition: If you have any chronic disease that can affect kidney function with time, consult your healthcare professional and discuss with him the plan of early treatment or prevention methods accordingly.
Healthy weight: If you are overweight/ obese try to change your diet and lifestyle. Increase your daily physical activity, You can consult a nutritionist in order to make better dietary decisions.

For more information on kidney health, read our blog on the best treatment for high creatinine!

Doctor and nurse miniature with kidney figurines.

It is important for us to take care of each and every organ of our body. The kidney is a vital organ in the body and low kidney function can affect the quality of your life in a serious way and lead to other health conditions as well.

Therefore, it is vital to get our regular health check-ups done to prevent or catch any signs of kidney failure and critical conditions like different stages of chronic kidney disease in time. We know that “Health is wealth”, and it’s beneficial to include lifestyle changes that can improve our health as early as possible.

We strongly recommend consulting your doctor, in case of any questions or concerns regarding your health. It is important to seek medical care at the right time, in order to prevent long term health complications.

If you’re seeking help to improve your health and want to better manage your kidney health, you can download the Zyla app or visit our website Zyla.in and check out the Kidney Care Program which is tailored specifically for chronic kidney disease and low estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Zyla has a team of 50+ medical experts who can provide personalized treatment through a holistic approach. Start your health journey today!

Stay strong! Stay healthy!